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Relative sea level variations caused by subduction
Language
English
Obiettivo Specifico
3.3. Geodinamica e struttura dell'interno della Terra
Status
Published
JCR Journal
JCR Journal
Peer review journal
Yes
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
/18(1997)
Publisher
Kluwer Academic Publishers
Pages (printed)
225–238
Issued date
1997
Abstract
By means of a stratified Earth model with viscoelastic rheology, we have studied the
long-term global fluctuations of Relative Sea Level (RSL) induced by subducting slabs. We have
computed RSL variations for both a single subduction and a realistic distribution of slabs by a
numerical simulation based on a simplified model of the subduction process. RSL is determined
by the offset between the geoid and the dynamic topography; our analysis demonstrates that the
latter provides the prevailing contribution. We have studied, in addition, the effects of rheological
stratification upon the amplitude and time-evolution of these two quantities and, consequently, of RSL
fluctuations. According to our results, an upper bound for the rate of RSL associated with subduction
is of the order of 0.1 mm/yr, in agreement with previous studies. This rate of sea level variation is
comparable with that attributed to changes in the tectonic regime on a large scale. This preliminary
result corroborates the suggestion by other authors to include subduction in the list of geophysical
mechanisms which contribute to long-term RSL fluctuations.
long-term global fluctuations of Relative Sea Level (RSL) induced by subducting slabs. We have
computed RSL variations for both a single subduction and a realistic distribution of slabs by a
numerical simulation based on a simplified model of the subduction process. RSL is determined
by the offset between the geoid and the dynamic topography; our analysis demonstrates that the
latter provides the prevailing contribution. We have studied, in addition, the effects of rheological
stratification upon the amplitude and time-evolution of these two quantities and, consequently, of RSL
fluctuations. According to our results, an upper bound for the rate of RSL associated with subduction
is of the order of 0.1 mm/yr, in agreement with previous studies. This rate of sea level variation is
comparable with that attributed to changes in the tectonic regime on a large scale. This preliminary
result corroborates the suggestion by other authors to include subduction in the list of geophysical
mechanisms which contribute to long-term RSL fluctuations.
References
Anderson, D.L.: 1989, Theory of the Earth, Blackwell Sci. Pub., Boston.
Cazenave, A., Sourieau, A. and Dominh, K.: 1989, ‘Earth surface topography: Global coupling with
hotspots, geoid and mantle heterogeneities’, Nature 340, 54–57.
Cazenave, A. and Lago, B.: 1991, ‘Long wavelength topography, seafloor subsidence and flattening’,
Geophys. Res. Lett. 18, 1257–1260.
Cloetingh, S., McQueen, H. and Lambeck, K.: 1985, ‘On a tectonic mechanism for regional sealevel
variations’, Earth and Planet. Sci. Letters 75, 157–166.
Dziewonski, A.M. and Woodhouse, J.H.: 1988, ‘Seismic tomography and the scale of mantle convection’,
EOS Trans. 69, 494.
Fung, Y.C.: 1965, Foundation of Solid Mechanics, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Gurnis, M.: 1990a, ‘Ridge spreading, subduction, and sea level fluctuations’, Science 250, 970–972.
Gurnis,M.: 1990b, ‘Bounds on global dynamic topography from Phanerozoic flooding of continental
platforms’, Nature 344, 754–756.
Gurnis,M.: 1991, ‘Continental flooding andmantle-lithosphere dynamics’, in R. Sabadini et al. (eds.),
Glacial Isostasy, Sea-Level and Mantle Rheology, Kluwer Academy Publishers, The Netherlands,
pp. 445–491.
Gurnis,M.: 1992, ‘Rapid continental subsidence following the initiation and evolution of subduction’,
Science 255, 1556–1558.
Gurnis,M.: 1993, ‘Phanerozoic marine inundation of continents driven by dynamic topography above
subducting slabs’, Nature 364, 589–593.
Hager, B.H., Clayton, R.W., Richards, M.A., Comer, R.P. and Dziewonski, A.M.: 1985, ‘Lower
mantle heterogeneity, dynamic topography and the geoid’, Nature 313, 541–545.
Hager, B.H. and Clayton, R.W.: 1989, ‘Constraints on the structure of mantle convection using
seismic observations, flow models and the geoid’, inW.R. Peltier (ed.),Mantle Convection: Plate
Tectonics and Global Dynamics, Gordon and Breach, New York, pp. 657–763.
Hays, J.D. and Pitman, W.C.: 1973, ‘Lithospheric plate motion, sea-level changes and climatic and
ecological consequences’, Nature 246, 18–22.
Kaula, W.M.: 1963, ‘Elastic models of the mantle corresponding to variations in the external gravity
field’, J. Geophys. Res. 68, 4967–4978.
Lambeck. K.: 1980, The Earth Variable Rotation, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Munk, W.H. and MacDonald, G.J.F.: 1960, The Rotation of the Earth, Cambridge University Press,
New York.
Peltier,W.R.: 1974, ‘The impulse of a Maxwell Earth’, Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 12, 649–669.
Peltier, W.R.: 1987, ‘Mechanism of Relative Sea-Level change and the geophysical responses to
ice-water loading’, in R.J.N. Devoy (ed.), Sea Surface Studies, A Global View, Croom Helm, pp.
57–94.
Piromallo, C.: 1993, ‘Variazioni globali di livello marino indotte dalla subduzione’, Thesis,Universit`a
di Bologna, Italy.
Ricard, Y., Fleitout, L. and Froidevaux, C.: 1984, ‘Geoid heights and lithospheric stresses for a
dynamic Earth’, Ann. Geophys. 2, 267–286.
Ricard, Y., Sabadini, R. and Spada, G.: 1992, ‘Isostatic deformations and polar wander induced by
internal mass redistribution’, J. Geophys. Res. 97, 14233–14236.
Ricard, Y., Richards, M., Lithgow Bertelloni C. and Le Stunff, Y.: 1993, ‘A geodynamic model of
mantle density heterogeneity’, J. Geophys. Res. 98, 21895–21909.
Richards, M.A. and Engebretson, D.C.: 1992, ‘Large-scale mantle convection and the history of
subduction’, Nature 355, 437–440.
Richards, M.A. and Hager, B.H.: 1984, ‘Geoid anomaly in a dynamic Earth’, J. Geophys. Res. 89,
5987–6002.
Sabadini, R., Doglioni, C. and Yuen, D.A.: 1990, ‘Eustatic sea-level fluctuations induced by polar
wander’, Nature 345, 708–710.
Sabadini, R., Spada, G. and Ricard, Y.: 1993, ‘Time-dependent density anomalies in a stratified,
viscoelastic mantle: implications for the geoid, Earth’s rotation and sea-level fluctuations’, Surveys
in Geophysics 14, 537–553.
Spada, G.: 1992, ‘Rebound post-glaciale e dinamica rotazionale di un pianeta viscoelastico stratificato’,
Ph.D. Thesis, Universita di Bologna, Bologna.
Turcotte, D.L. and Schubert, G.: 1982, Geodynamics, Applications of Continuum Physics to Geological
Problems, John Wiley and Sons, eds., New York.
Vail, P.R., Mitchium, R.M., Jr., Todd, R.G., Widmier, J.M., Thompson, S., III, Sangree, J.B., Bubb.,
J.N. and Hatlelid,W.G.: 1977, in C.E. Payton (ed.), Seismic Stratigraphy and Global Changes of
Sea Level, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir, 26, pp. 49–212.
Vigny, C.: 1989, ‘Geoide et dynamique interne de la Terre’, Thesis, Universite de Paris sud, Centre
d’Orsay, France.
Cazenave, A., Sourieau, A. and Dominh, K.: 1989, ‘Earth surface topography: Global coupling with
hotspots, geoid and mantle heterogeneities’, Nature 340, 54–57.
Cazenave, A. and Lago, B.: 1991, ‘Long wavelength topography, seafloor subsidence and flattening’,
Geophys. Res. Lett. 18, 1257–1260.
Cloetingh, S., McQueen, H. and Lambeck, K.: 1985, ‘On a tectonic mechanism for regional sealevel
variations’, Earth and Planet. Sci. Letters 75, 157–166.
Dziewonski, A.M. and Woodhouse, J.H.: 1988, ‘Seismic tomography and the scale of mantle convection’,
EOS Trans. 69, 494.
Fung, Y.C.: 1965, Foundation of Solid Mechanics, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Gurnis, M.: 1990a, ‘Ridge spreading, subduction, and sea level fluctuations’, Science 250, 970–972.
Gurnis,M.: 1990b, ‘Bounds on global dynamic topography from Phanerozoic flooding of continental
platforms’, Nature 344, 754–756.
Gurnis,M.: 1991, ‘Continental flooding andmantle-lithosphere dynamics’, in R. Sabadini et al. (eds.),
Glacial Isostasy, Sea-Level and Mantle Rheology, Kluwer Academy Publishers, The Netherlands,
pp. 445–491.
Gurnis,M.: 1992, ‘Rapid continental subsidence following the initiation and evolution of subduction’,
Science 255, 1556–1558.
Gurnis,M.: 1993, ‘Phanerozoic marine inundation of continents driven by dynamic topography above
subducting slabs’, Nature 364, 589–593.
Hager, B.H., Clayton, R.W., Richards, M.A., Comer, R.P. and Dziewonski, A.M.: 1985, ‘Lower
mantle heterogeneity, dynamic topography and the geoid’, Nature 313, 541–545.
Hager, B.H. and Clayton, R.W.: 1989, ‘Constraints on the structure of mantle convection using
seismic observations, flow models and the geoid’, inW.R. Peltier (ed.),Mantle Convection: Plate
Tectonics and Global Dynamics, Gordon and Breach, New York, pp. 657–763.
Hays, J.D. and Pitman, W.C.: 1973, ‘Lithospheric plate motion, sea-level changes and climatic and
ecological consequences’, Nature 246, 18–22.
Kaula, W.M.: 1963, ‘Elastic models of the mantle corresponding to variations in the external gravity
field’, J. Geophys. Res. 68, 4967–4978.
Lambeck. K.: 1980, The Earth Variable Rotation, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Munk, W.H. and MacDonald, G.J.F.: 1960, The Rotation of the Earth, Cambridge University Press,
New York.
Peltier,W.R.: 1974, ‘The impulse of a Maxwell Earth’, Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 12, 649–669.
Peltier, W.R.: 1987, ‘Mechanism of Relative Sea-Level change and the geophysical responses to
ice-water loading’, in R.J.N. Devoy (ed.), Sea Surface Studies, A Global View, Croom Helm, pp.
57–94.
Piromallo, C.: 1993, ‘Variazioni globali di livello marino indotte dalla subduzione’, Thesis,Universit`a
di Bologna, Italy.
Ricard, Y., Fleitout, L. and Froidevaux, C.: 1984, ‘Geoid heights and lithospheric stresses for a
dynamic Earth’, Ann. Geophys. 2, 267–286.
Ricard, Y., Sabadini, R. and Spada, G.: 1992, ‘Isostatic deformations and polar wander induced by
internal mass redistribution’, J. Geophys. Res. 97, 14233–14236.
Ricard, Y., Richards, M., Lithgow Bertelloni C. and Le Stunff, Y.: 1993, ‘A geodynamic model of
mantle density heterogeneity’, J. Geophys. Res. 98, 21895–21909.
Richards, M.A. and Engebretson, D.C.: 1992, ‘Large-scale mantle convection and the history of
subduction’, Nature 355, 437–440.
Richards, M.A. and Hager, B.H.: 1984, ‘Geoid anomaly in a dynamic Earth’, J. Geophys. Res. 89,
5987–6002.
Sabadini, R., Doglioni, C. and Yuen, D.A.: 1990, ‘Eustatic sea-level fluctuations induced by polar
wander’, Nature 345, 708–710.
Sabadini, R., Spada, G. and Ricard, Y.: 1993, ‘Time-dependent density anomalies in a stratified,
viscoelastic mantle: implications for the geoid, Earth’s rotation and sea-level fluctuations’, Surveys
in Geophysics 14, 537–553.
Spada, G.: 1992, ‘Rebound post-glaciale e dinamica rotazionale di un pianeta viscoelastico stratificato’,
Ph.D. Thesis, Universita di Bologna, Bologna.
Turcotte, D.L. and Schubert, G.: 1982, Geodynamics, Applications of Continuum Physics to Geological
Problems, John Wiley and Sons, eds., New York.
Vail, P.R., Mitchium, R.M., Jr., Todd, R.G., Widmier, J.M., Thompson, S., III, Sangree, J.B., Bubb.,
J.N. and Hatlelid,W.G.: 1977, in C.E. Payton (ed.), Seismic Stratigraphy and Global Changes of
Sea Level, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir, 26, pp. 49–212.
Vigny, C.: 1989, ‘Geoide et dynamique interne de la Terre’, Thesis, Universite de Paris sud, Centre
d’Orsay, France.
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