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Spreading rates and heat flow
Author(s) -
Harrison C. G. A.
Publication year - 1980
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/gl007i012p01041
Subject(s) - geology , heat flow , crest , oceanic crust , mid ocean ridge , mantle (geology) , flow (mathematics) , convection , petrology , geophysics , paleontology , mechanics , thermal , meteorology , tectonics , subduction , physics , quantum mechanics
It has been proposed that the cause of the Cretaceous transgression may be found in the volume of ridge crest material. High spreading rates produce a greater volume of material, which displaces sea water and causes flooding of the continents. A direct corollary of this is that the average oceanic heat flow during these times of high sea level must be greater, since heat flow is closely connected to oceanic age and thus crustal elevation. Calculations show that at 85 m.y.b.p. the average oceanic heat flow was 1.35 times its present value. Variations of average oceanic heat flow must be taken into account in any model of mantle convection.