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Subduction initiation forcing

The illustration depicts two endmember states in subduction zone initiation: vertically-forced and horizontally-forced subduction initiation.

Illustration of the two endmember states forcing a new subduction zone. The two endmember forcing states characterising subduction zone initiation (SZI) can be described as either vertically-forced or horizontally-forced. As outlined in Crameri et al. (2020), the dominant forcing is either—but never exclusively—vertical (i.e., some combination of plate buoyancy force, the force from any surface load, and vertical mantle-flow force), or horizontal (i.e., some combination of tectonic force and horizontal mantle-flow force).

  • Creator: Fabio Crameri
  • This version: 24.10.2021
  • License: Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Specific citation: This graphic by Fabio Crameri from Crameri et al. (2020) is available via the open-access s-Ink repository.
  • Related reference: Crameri, F., V. Magni, M. Domeier, G.E. Shephard, K. Chotalia, G. Cooper, C. Eakin, A.G. Grima, D. Gürer, A. Király, E. Mulyukova, K. Peters, B. Robert, and M. Thielmann (2020), A transdisciplinary and community-driven database to unravel subduction zone initiation, Nature Communications, 11, 3750. doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17522-9
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Plume-induced subduction

Temporal evolution of subduction initiation in a global, 3-D spherical numerical experiment showing the cold plates and hot mantle plumes.

Temporal evolution of subduction initiation in a global, 3-D spherical numerical experiment showing the cold plates as viscosity isosurfaces (grey) and mantle plumes as a temperature isosurface (red). Individual snapshots highlight the different phases of plume-induced subduction initiation characterised by (a) onset of hot mantle plumes, (b) local lithospheric thinning, (c-d) development of strong lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary topography through shallow horizontal mantle flow and an additional plume pulse, (e-f) plate failure and, finally, (g-h) buoyancy-driven subduction.

  • 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 (2016) is available via the open-access s-Ink repository.
  • Related reference: Crameri, F., and P. J. Tackley (2016), Subduction initiation from a stagnant lid and global overturn: new insights from numerical models with a free surface, Progress in Earth and Planetary Science, 3(1), 1–19, doi:10.1186/s40645-016-0103-8
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SZI geologic evidence

Schematic illustration of the emplacement of subduction zone initiation (SZI)-typical rock evidence during SZI, and a typical SZI ophiolite sequence.

Schematic illustration of the emplacement of subduction zone initiation (SZI)-typical rock evidence during SZI, and a typical SZI ophiolite sequence. Note that this is a text-book example (according to e.g., the Izu-Bonin-Mariana SZI) and that pre-existing structures (e.g., a pre-existing volcanic arc) or variable SZI dynamics (e.g., horizontal compression) could inhibit various stages and therefore their typical rock signatures.

  • Creator: Fabio Crameri
  • This version: 18.08.2021
  • License: Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Specific citation: This graphic by Fabio Crameri from Crameri et al. (2020) is available via the open-access s-Ink repository.
  • Related reference: Crameri, F., V. Magni, M. Domeier, G.E. Shephard, K. Chotalia, G. Cooper, C. Eakin, A.G. Grima, D. Gürer, A. Király, E. Mulyukova, K. Peters, B. Robert, and M. Thielmann (2020), A transdisciplinary and community-driven database to unravel subduction zone initiation, Nature Communications, 11, 3750. doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17522-9
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  • Colour-vision deficiency friendly
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