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Constraints on lithospheric thermal structure for the Indian Ocean from depth and heat flow data
Author(s) -
Shoberg Tom,
Stein Carol A.,
Stein Seth
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/93gl00985
Subject(s) - seafloor spreading , lithosphere , geology , heat flow , bathymetry , flow (mathematics) , isopach map , oceanic basin , thermal , geophysics , ocean heat content , oceanography , ocean current , geomorphology , mechanics , meteorology , seismology , tectonics , geography , physics , facies , structural basin
Models for the thermal evolution of oceanic lithosphere are primarily constrained by variations in seafloor depth and heat flow with age. These models have been largely based on data from the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean basins. We construct seafloor age relations for the Indian Ocean which we combine with bathymetric, sediment isopach and heat flow data to derive curves for depth and heat flow versus age. Comparison of these curves with predictions from three thermal models shows that they are better fit by the shallower depths and higher heat flow for the GDH1 model, which is characterized by a thinner and hotter lithosphere than previous models.