Mantle dynamics with induced plate tectonics

Y. Ricard (1) , C. Vigny (2)

1 LST - Laboratoire de Sciences de la Terre
2 LGENS - Laboratoire de géologie de l'ENS

In this paper, we first explain by means of a very simple two-plate model, how the poloidal flow caused by mantle heterogeneities can be converted to surface toroidal motion. We then apply the model to the real Earth with its major plates and compare our predictions to those deduced from a more classical Earth model having a uniform free slip condition at the surface. Taking the seismic tomography pattern as a picture of the mantle mass heterogeneities, we achieve a highly satisfactory fit to the observed plate velocities. This new theoretical framework also improves the geoid prediction. -from Authors

Domaines: Géophysique [physics.geo-ph]

Y. Ricard, C. Vigny. Mantle dynamics with induced plate tectonics. Journal of Geophysical Research, 1989, 94 (B12), pp.17,543-17,559. ⟨hal-02046608⟩