Surface motions and intraplate continental deformation in Alaska driven by mantle flow

The degree to which the lithosphere and mantle are coupled and contribute to surface deformation beneath continental regions remains a fundamental question in the field of geodynamics. Here we use a new approach with a surface deformation field constrained by GPS, geologic, and seismicity data, toge...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical Research Letters
Main Authors: Finzel, Emily S, Flesch, Lucy M, Ridgway, Kenneth D, Holt, William E, Ghosh, Attreyee
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION 2015
Subjects:
Centre for Earth Sciences
Canada
Pacific
Mackenzie mountains
Alaska
Online Access:http://eprints.iisc.ernet.in/52033/
http://eprints.iisc.ernet.in/52033/1/Geo_Res_Let_42-11_4350_2015.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL063987
Description
Summary:The degree to which the lithosphere and mantle are coupled and contribute to surface deformation beneath continental regions remains a fundamental question in the field of geodynamics. Here we use a new approach with a surface deformation field constrained by GPS, geologic, and seismicity data, together with a lithospheric geodynamic model, to solve for tractions inferred to be generated by mantle convection that (1) drive extension within interior Alaska generating southward directed surface motions toward the southern convergent plate boundary, (2) result in accommodation of the relative motions between the Pacific and North America in a comparatively small zone near the plate boundary, and (3) generate the observed convergence within the North American plate interior in the Mackenzie mountains in northwestern Canada. The evidence for deeper mantle influence on surface deformation beneath a continental region suggests that this mechanism may be an important contributing driver to continental plate assemblage and breakup.

Similar Items