The effects of viscous stressed and mantle velocities on subduction : finite difference modeling

This thesis presents a two-dimensional finite-difference model of subduction, which is used to explore the characteristics of subduction that are most closely related to deformation in the overriding plate. The model focuses on how the angle, a, at which the slab subducts and the rate, Vr , at which the subduction boundary "retreats" are affected by the negative buoyancy of the subducting lithospheric slab and the viscous forces that arise where the mantle and subducting slab are in motion relative to one another ...

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2001

Author dc:creator

• Dawson, Mathew Walter, 1977-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Leigh H. Royden.

• Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53084

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/53084