Slab window – Accessible Science Graphics Collection

Slab-gap dynamics

Sketch of an evolution of an opening and sinking slab gap during oceanic subduction and the resulting surrounding mantle flow.

Evolution of an opening and sinking slab gap during oceanic subduction. This conclusive image is based on analog models of subduction, where the slab surface was monitored by 3-D scanning and the mantle flow was imaged using PIV technique. The opening slab gap allows mantle to flow from the sub-slab area to the mantle wedge area. However, this flow might only have an effect on the surface when the slab gap is near-surface and has a significant vertical extent.

Creator: Ágnes Király
This version: 30.09.2021
License: Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Specific citation: This graphic by Ágnes Király from Király et al. (2020) is available via the open-access s-Ink repository.
Related reference: Király, Á., Portner, D. E., Haynie, K. L., Chilson-Parks, B. H., Ghosh, T., Jadamec, M., … & O’Farrell, K. A. (2020). The effect of slab gaps on subduction dynamics and mantle upwelling. Tectonophysics, 785, 228458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2020.228458

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Slab retreat dynamics

Three different ways to allow for fast subduction trench retreat.

Sketch of three different ways to allow for fast subduction trench retreat that are flattening of the slab from side view (top left), curvature of the slab from top view for narrow (top centre) and wide subduction zones (bottom), and partial slab damage (i.e., slab window) from side view (top right). Shown are initial (grey) and end position (black) of the plate and corresponding mantle flow (blue) that displaces mantle material from its initial region (orange) to its final region (green).

Creator: Fabio Crameri
This version: 12.09.2021
License: Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Specific citation: This graphic by Fabio Crameri from Crameri and Tackley (2014) is available via the open-access s-Ink repository.
Related reference: Crameri, F., and P.J. Tackley (2014), Spontaneous development of arcuate single-sided subduction in global 3-D mantle convection models with a free surface, J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth, 119(7), 5921-5942, doi:10.1002/2014JB010939

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Slab tearing

Time-evolution of subduction slab break-off shown in a global spherical 3-D model.

Evolution of subduction slab tearing and eventual slab break-off shown in a global spherical 3-D model by contours of viscosity. The stiff down-going plate (yellow) is moving towards the observer before subduction and is starting to laterally tear apart at depth, while the remaining intact part continues to subduct.

Creator: Fabio Crameri
This version: 01.09.2021
License: Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Specific citation: This graphic by Fabio Crameri from Crameri and Tackley (2014) is available via the open-access s-Ink repository.
Related reference: Crameri, F., and P.J. Tackley (2014), Spontaneous development of arcuate single-sided subduction in global 3-D mantle convection models with a free surface, J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth, 119(7), 5921-5942, doi:10.1002/2014JB010939

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