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Some remarks on the thermal consequences of ridge subduction
Author(s) -
Hsui Albert T.
Publication year - 1981
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/gl008i010p01031
Subject(s) - ridge , subduction , geology , trench , ridge push , mid ocean ridge , plate tectonics , thermal , seismology , geophysics , geometry , tectonics , materials science , physics , paleontology , meteorology , mathematics , layer (electronics) , composite material
A simple model has been developed to study the thermal consequences of ridge subduction. The geological process is modeled as a flat plate moving over a finite line heat source. Effects of plate velocity, ridge length and the oblique angle between ridge and trench axes have been investigated. Calculated results indicate that the depth of thermal perturbation of a ridge is inversely proportional to plate velocity. Thermal effects will penetrate deeper into a plate for longer ridges if the ridge axis is parallel to the direction of plate motion. However, depth of thermal disturbance is found to be independent of ridge length if ridge axis is normal to plate motion direction.