Slip rate on the Dead Sea transform fault in northern Araba valley (Jordan)   总被引：11，自引：0，他引：11  

Y. Klinger  J. P. Avouac  N. Abou Karaki  L. Dorbath  D. Bourles   J. L. Reyss 《Geophysical Journal International》2000,142(3):755-768

The Araba valley lies between the southern tip of the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. This depression, blanketed with alluvial and lacustrine deposits, is cut along its entire length by the Dead Sea fault. In many places the fault is well defined by scarps, and evidence for left-lateral strike-slip faulting is abundant. The slip rate on the fault can be constrained from dated geomorphic features displaced by the fault. A large fan at the mouth of Wadi Dahal has been displaced by about 500 m since the bulk of the fanglomerates were deposited 77–140 kyr ago, as dated from cosmogenic isotope analysis (¹⁰Be in chert) of pebbles collected on the fan surface and from the age of transgressive lacustrine sediments capping the fan. Holocene alluvial surfaces are also clearly offset. By correlation with similar surfaces along the Dead Sea lake margin, we propose a chronology for their emplacement. Taken together, our observations suggest an average slip rate over the Late Pleistocene of between 2 and 6 mm yr⁻¹, with a preferred value of 4 mm yr⁻¹. This slip rate is shown to be consistent with other constraints on the kinematics of the Arabian plate, assuming a rotation rate of about 0.396° Myr⁻¹ around a pole at 31.1°N, 26.7°E relative to Africa.  相似文献   

Surface vertical displacements, potential perturbations andgravity changes of a viscoelastic earth model induced by internal point dislocations   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Hansheng Wang 《Geophysical Journal International》1999,137(2):429-440

Using the viscoelastic correspondence principle, we utilize the surface coseismic spheroidal deformation fields (i.e. vertical displacements, potential perturbations and gravity changes) of SNREI earth models caused by four typical types of point dislocation, derived by Sun & Okubo (1993 ), to deduce the fundamental formulas for spheroidal fields relevant to viscoelastic earth models. In computations, we employ a strike-slip dislocation on a vertical plane buried at the bottom of the lithosphere to estimate the maximal viscous relaxation responses to this kind of source that possibly exist on the surface of the earth. We take the seismic moment as 10²²  N  m, which is characteristic of an average large earthquake. The numerical results demonstrate that, if we take the viscosity as 10¹⁹  Pa  s in the asthenosphere, and 10²¹  Pa  s in the other mantle layers, the rates of surface vertical displacements and gravity changes within about 2.5° for the 10 postseismic years are respectively 1.5–8.1  cm  yr⁻¹ and 4.0–14.9  μgal  yr⁻¹ : the viscous relaxation for this mantle viscosity profile proceeds much faster than for a constant mantle viscosity of 10²¹  Pa  s.  相似文献   

Continuous GPS measurements across the Western Alps, 1996–1998     

Eric Calais 《Geophysical Journal International》1999,138(1):221-230

Global Positioning System (GPS) data are analysed from three permanent sites, two in the Western Alps (Grasse, France, and Zimmerwald, Switzerland) and the third in the Po Basin (Torino, Italy), for the 2.5-year period from 1 January 1996 to 1 July 1998. An analysis of the stochastic properties of the position time series reveals a significant amount of spatially and temporally correlated noise, which best fits a model combining white noise and flicker noise. The coloured noise is drastically reduced by spatially filtering the time series, suggesting that it is not due to site-specific effects such as monument motion, but rather to noise sources common to the three sites, such as reference frame, satellite orbit or Earth orientation errors. We find velocity uncertainties (95 per cent confidence interval) of 2.7  mm  yr⁻¹ at GRAS, 2.3  mm  yr⁻¹ at ZIMM, and 2.9  mm  yr⁻¹ at TORI. The residual velocity in the Eurasian reference frame is statistically greater than zero at ZIMM only, with 2.4 ± 2.3  mm  yr⁻¹ of motion in a NW direction. These uncertainties place an upper bound on the expected deformation in the Western Alps. Velocities relative to stable Eurasia do not exceed 3  mm  yr⁻¹, corresponding to a maximum strain rate of 0.03  μstrain  yr⁻¹ over the GRAS–TORI–ZIMM triangle.  相似文献   

Aseismic fault movement before the 1995  Kobe earthquake detected by a GPS survey: implication for preseismic stress localization?     

Shaorong Zhao  & Shuzo Takemoto 《Geophysical Journal International》1998,135(2):595-606

By inversion analysis of the baseline changes and horizontal displacements observed with GPS (Global Positioning System) during 1990–1994, a high-angle reverse fault was detected in the Shikoku-Kinki region, southwest Japan. The active blind fault is characterized by reverse dip-slip (0.7±0.2  m yr⁻¹ within a layer 17–26  km deep) with a length of 208±5  km, a (down-dip) width of 9±2  km, a dip-angle of 51°±2° and a strike direction of 40°±2° (NE). Evidence from the geological investigation of subfaults close to the southwestern portion of the fault, two historical earthquakes ( M _L=7.0, 1789 and 6.4, 1955) near the centre of the fault, and an additional inversion analysis of the baseline changes recorded by the nationwide permanent GPS array from 18 January to 31 December 1995 partially demonstrates the existence of the fault, and suggests that it might be a reactivation of a pre-existing fault in this region. The fact that hardly any earthquakes ( M _L>2.0) occurred at depth on the inferred fault plane suggests that the fault activity was largely aseismic. Based on the parameters of the blind fault estimated in this study, we evaluated stress changes in this region. It is found that shear stress concentrated and increased by up to 2.1 bar yr⁻¹ at a depth of about 20  km around the epicentral area of the 1995 January 17  Kobe earthquake ( M _L=7.2, Japan), and that the earthquake hypocentre received a Coulomb failure stress of about 5.6 bar yr⁻¹ during 1990–1994. The results suggest that the 1995  Kobe earthquake could have been induced or triggered by aseismic fault movement.  相似文献   

Large-scale velocity field and strain tensor in Iran inferred from GPS measurements: new insight for the present-day deformation pattern within NE Iran   总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4  

Frédéric Masson  Mohammad Anvari  Yahya Djamour  rea Walpersdorf  Farokh Tavakoli  Marc Daignières  Hamid Nankali  Sébastien Van Gorp 《Geophysical Journal International》2007,170(1):436-440

A network of 26 GPS sites was implemented in Iran and Northern Oman to measure displacements in this part of the Arabia–Eurasia collision zone. We present the GPS velocity field obtained from three surveys performed in 1999 September, 2001 October and 2005 September and the deduced strain tensor. This study refines previous studies inferred from only the two first surveys. Improvements are significant in NE Iran. The present-day shortening rate across the mountain belts of NE Iran is estimated to 5 ± 1 mm yr⁻¹ at about N11°, 2 ± 1 mm yr⁻¹ of NS shortening across the eastern Kopet Dag and 3 ± 1 mm yr⁻¹ of NS shortening across Binalud and Kuh-e-Sorkh. Our GPS measurements emphasize the varying character of the Kopet Dag deformation between its southeastern part with prevailing thrusting at low rates and its northwestern part with dominant strike-slip activity at increasing rates. The principal axes of the horizontal strain tensor appears very homogeneous from the Zagros to the Alborz and the Kopet-Dag (N20°) and in eastern Iran (Makran and Lut block: N30°). Only NW Iran suffers a variable strain pattern which seems to wrap the Caspian basin. The strain tensor map underlines the existence of large homogeneous tectonic provinces in terms of style and amplitude of the deformation.  相似文献   

North Atlantic Water in the Barents Sea Opening, 1997 to 1999     

Jane O'Dwyer  Yoshie Kasajima  Ole Anders Nøst 《Polar research》2001,20(2):209-216

North Atlantic Water (NAW) is an important source of heat and salt to the Nordic seas and the Arctic Ocean. To measure the transport and variability of one branch of NAW entering the Arctic, a transect across the entrance to the Barents Sea was occupied 13 times between July 1997 and November 1999, and hydrography and currents were measured. There is large variability between the cruises, but the mean currents and the hydrography show that the main inflow takes place in Bjørnøyrenna, with a transport of 1.6 Sv of NAW into the Barents Sea. Combining the flow field with measurements of temperature and salinity, this results in mean heat and salt transports by NAW into the Barents Sea of 3.9×10¹³ W and 5.7×10⁷ kg s⁻¹, respectively. The NAW core increased in temperature and salinity by 0.7 °C yr⁻¹ and 0.04 yr⁻¹, respectively, over the observation period. Variations in the transports of heat and salt are, however, dominated by the flow field, which did not exhibit a significant change.  相似文献   

Inference of mantle viscosity from GRACE and relative sea level data   总被引：12，自引：0，他引：12  

Archie Paulson  Shijie Zhong  John Wahr 《Geophysical Journal International》2007,171(2):497-508

Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite observations of secular changes in gravity near Hudson Bay, and geological measurements of relative sea level (RSL) changes over the last 10 000 yr in the same region, are used in a Monte Carlo inversion to infer-mantle viscosity structure. The GRACE secular change in gravity shows a significant positive anomaly over a broad region (>3000 km) near Hudson Bay with a maximum of ∼2.5 μGal yr⁻¹ slightly west of Hudson Bay. The pattern of this anomaly is remarkably consistent with that predicted for postglacial rebound using the ICE-5G deglaciation history, strongly suggesting a postglacial rebound origin for the gravity change. We find that the GRACE and RSL data are insensitive to mantle viscosity below 1800 km depth, a conclusion similar to that from previous studies that used only RSL data. For a mantle with homogeneous viscosity, the GRACE and RSL data require a viscosity between  1.4 × 10²¹  and  2.3 × 10²¹  Pa s. An inversion for two mantle viscosity layers separated at a depth of 670 km, shows an ensemble of viscosity structures compatible with the data. While the lowest misfit occurs for upper- and lower-mantle viscosities of  5.3 × 10²⁰  and  2.3 × 10²¹  Pa s, respectively, a weaker upper mantle may be compensated by a stronger lower mantle, such that there exist other models that also provide a reasonable fit to the data. We find that the GRACE and RSL data used in this study cannot resolve more than two layers in the upper 1800 km of the mantle.  相似文献   

Strain accumulation along an oblique plate boundary: the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest Iceland     

M. Keiding  T. Árnadóttir  E. Sturkell  H. Geirsson  B. Lund 《Geophysical Journal International》2008,172(2):861-872

We use annual GPS observations on the Reykjanes Peninsula (RP) from 2000 to 2006 to generate maps of surface velocities and strain rates across the active plate boundary. We find that the surface deformation on the RP is consistent with oblique plate boundary motion on a regional scale, although considerable temporal and spatial strain rate variations are observed within the plate boundary zone. A small, but consistent increase in eastward velocity is observed at several stations on the southern part of the peninsula, compared to the 1993–1998 time period. The 2000–2006 velocities can be modelled by approximating the plate boundary as a series of vertical dislocations with left-lateral motion and opening. For the RP plate boundary we estimate left-lateral motion  18⁺⁴₋₃ mm yr⁻¹  and opening of  7⁺³₋₂ mm yr⁻¹  below a locking depth of  7⁺¹₋₂ km  . The resulting deep motion of  20⁺⁴₋₃ mm yr⁻¹  in the direction of  N(100⁺⁸₋₆)°E  agrees well with the predicted relative North America–Eurasia rate. We calculate the areal and shear strain rates using velocities from two periods: 1993–1998 and 2000–2006. The deep motion along the plate boundary results in left-lateral shear strain rates, which are perturbed by shallow deformation due to the 1994–1998 inflation and elevated seismicity in the Hengill–Hrómundartindur volcanic system, geothermal fluid extraction at the Svartsengi power plant, and possibly earthquake activity on the central part of the peninsula.  相似文献   

A Maastrichtian palaeomagnetic pole for the Pacific plate from a skewness analysis of marine magnetic anomaly 32     

Katerina E. Petronotis  & Richard G. Gordon 《Geophysical Journal International》1999,139(1):227-247

The asymmetry (skewness) of marine magnetic anomaly 32 (72.1–73.3  Ma) on the Pacific plate has been analysed in order to estimate a new palaeomagnetic pole. Apparent effective remanent inclinations of the seafloor magnetization were calculated from skewness estimates of 108 crossings of anomaly 32 distributed over the entire Pacific plate and spanning a great-circle distance of ~12  000  km. The data were inverted to obtain a palaeomagnetic pole at 72.1°N, 26.8°E with a 95 per cent confidence ellipse having a 4.0° major semi-axis oriented 98° clockwise of north and a 1.8° minor semi-axis; the anomalous skewness is 14.2° ± 3.7°. The possible dependence of anomalous skewness on spreading rate was investigated with two empirical models and found to have a negligible effect on our palaeopole analysis over the range of relevant spreading half-rates, ~25 to ~90  mm  yr⁻¹ . The new pole is consistent with the northward motion for the Pacific plate indicated by coeval palaeocolatitude and palaeoequatorial data, but differs significantly from, and lies to the northeast of, coeval seamount poles. We attribute the difference to unmodelled errors in the seamount poles, mainly in the declinations. Comparison with the northward motion inferred from dated volcanoes along the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain indicates 13° of southward motion of the Hawaiian hotspot since 73  Ma. When the pole is reconstructed with the Pacific plate relative to the Pacific hotspots, it differs by 14°–18° from the position of the pole relative to the Indo–Atlantic hotspots. This has several possible explanations including bias in one or more of the palaeomagnetic poles, motion between the Pacific and Indo–Atlantic hotspots, and errors in plate reconstructions relative to the hotspots.  相似文献   

Deglaciation effects on the rotation of the Earth     

S. M. Nakiboglu  Kurt Lambeck 《Geophysical Journal International》1980,62(1):49-58

Summary. The viscoelastic response of the Earth to the mass displacements caused by late Pleistocene deglaciation and concomitant sea level changes is shown to be capable of producing the secular motion of the Earth's rotation pole as deduced from astronomical observations. The calculations for a viscoelastic Earth yield a secular motion in the direction of 72° W meridian which is in excellent agreement with observed values. The average Newtonian viscosity and the relaxation time obtained from polar motion data are about (1.1 ± 0.6)10²³ poise (P) and 10⁴ (1 ± 0.5) yr. The non-tidal secular acceleration of the Earth can also be attributed to the viscoelastic response to deglaciation and results in an independent viscosity estimate of 1.6 × 10²³ P with upper and lower limits of 1.1 × 10²³ and 2.8 × 10²³ P. These values are in agreement with those based on the polar drift analysis and indicate an average mantle viscosity of 1–2 × 10²³ P.  相似文献   

Wide-scale detection of earthquake waveform doublets and further evidence for inner core super-rotation     

Jian Zhang  Paul G. Richards  David P. Schaff 《Geophysical Journal International》2008,174(3):993-1006

We report on more than 100 earthquake waveform doublets in five subduction zones, including an earthquake nest in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Each doublet is presumed to be a pair of earthquakes that repeat at essentially the same location. These doublets are important for studying earthquake physics, as well as temporal changes of the inner core. Particularly, our observation from one South Sandwich Islands (SSI) doublet recorded at station INK in Canada shows an inner core traveltime change of ∼0.1 s over ∼6 yr, confirming the inner-core differential motion occurring beneath Central America. Observations from one Aleutian Islands doublet, recorded at station BOSA in South Africa, and from one Kuril Islands doublet, recorded at station BDFB in Brazil, show an apparent inner core traveltime change of ∼0.1 s over ∼7 yr and ∼6 yr, respectively, providing evidence for the temporal change of inner core properties beneath Central Asia and Canada, respectively. On the other hand, observations from one Tonga–Fiji–Solomon Islands doublet, recorded at station PTGA in Brazil, and from one Bucaramanga doublet, recorded at station WRAB in Australia and station CHTO in Thailand, show no/little temporal change (no more than 0.005 s yr⁻¹, if any) of inner core traveltimes for the three corresponding ray paths for which the path in the inner core is nearly parallel to the equatorial plane. Such a pattern of observations showing both presence and possible absence of inner-core traveltime change can be explained by the geometry and relative directions of ray path, lateral velocity gradient and inner-core particle motion due to an eastward super-rotation of a few tenths of a degree per year.  相似文献   

Internal waves in the earth's core     

Peter Olsen 《Geophysical Journal International》1977,51(1):183-215

This paper investigates possible long-period oscillations of the earth's fluid outer core. Equations describing free oscillations in a stratified, self-gravitating, rotating fluid sphere are developed using a regular perturbation on the equations of hydrodynamics. The resulting system is reduced to a finite set of ordinary differential equations by ignoring the local horizontal component of the earth's angular velocity vector, Ω, and retaining only the vertical component. The angular dependence of the eigensolutions is described by Hough functions, which are solutions to Laplace's tidal equation.
The model considered here consists of a uniform solid elastic mantle and inner core surrounding a stratified, rotating, inviscid fluid outer core. The quantity which describes the core's stratification is the Brunt—Väisälä frequency N , and for particular distributions of this parameter, analytical solutions are presented. The interaction of buoyancy, and rotation results in two types of wave motion, the amplitudes of which are confined predominantly to the outer core: (1) internal gravity waves which exist when N ² > 0, and (2) inertial oscillations which exist when N ²<4Ω². For a model with a stable density stratification similar to that proposed by Higgins & Kennedy (1971), the resulting internal gravity wave eigenperiods are all at least 8 hr, and the fundamental modes have periods of at least 13 hr. A model with an unstable density stratification admits no internal gravity waves but does admit inertial oscillations whose eigenperiods have a lower bound of 12hr.  相似文献   

Geodetic observations of ice flow velocities over the southern part of subglacial Lake Vostok, Antarctica, and their glaciological implications   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Jens Wendt  Reinhard Dietrich  Mathias Fritsche  Anja Wendt  Alexander Yuskevich  rey Kokhanov  Anton Senatorov  Valery Lukin  Kazuo Shibuya  Koichiro Doi 《Geophysical Journal International》2006,166(3):991-998

In the austral summer seasons 2001/02 and 2002/03, Global Positioning System (GPS) data were collected in the vicinity of Vostok Station to determine ice flow velocities over Lake Vostok. Ten GPS sites are located within a radius of 30 km around Vostok Station on floating ice as well as on grounded ice to the east and to the west of the lake. Additionally, a local deformation network around the ice core drilling site 5G-1 was installed.
The derived ice flow velocity for Vostok Station is  2.00 m a⁻¹± 0.01 m a⁻¹  . Along the flowline of Vostok Station an extension rate of about 10⁻⁵ a⁻¹ (equivalent to 1 cm km⁻¹ a⁻¹) was determined. This significant velocity gradient results in a new estimate of 28 700 years for the transit time of an ice particle along the Vostok flowline from the bedrock ridge in the southwest of the lake to the eastern shoreline. With these lower velocities compared to earlier studies and, hence, larger transit times the basal accretion rate is estimated to be 4 mm a⁻¹ along a portion of the Vostok flowline. An assessment of the local accretion rate at Vostok Station using the observed geodetic quantities yields an accretion rate in the same order of magnitude. Furthermore, the comparison of our geodetic observations with results inferred from ice-penetrating radar data indicates that the ice flow may not have changed significantly for several thousand years.  相似文献   

Evidence for underthrusting beneath the Queen Charlotte Margin, British Columbia, from teleseismic receiver function analysis     

A. M. M. Bustin  R. D. Hyndman  H. Kao  J. F. Cassidy 《Geophysical Journal International》2007,171(3):1198-1211

The Queen Charlotte Fault zone is the transpressive boundary between the North America and Pacific Plates along the northwestern margin of British Columbia. Two models have been suggested for the accommodation of the ∼20 mm yr⁻¹ of convergence along the fault boundary: (1) underthrusting; (2) internal crustal deformation. Strong evidence supporting an underthrusting model is provided by a detailed teleseismic receiver function analysis that defines the underthrusting slab. Forward and inverse modelling techniques were applied to receiver function data calculated at two permanent and four temporary seismic stations within the Queen Charlotte Islands. The modelling reveals a ∼10 km thick low-velocity zone dipping eastward at 28° interpreted to be underthrusting oceanic crust. The oceanic crust is located beneath a thin (28 km) eastward thickening (10°) continental crust.  相似文献   

Pleistocene deglaciation and the Earth's rotation: implications for mantle viscosity     

R. Sabadini  W. R. Peltier 《Geophysical Journal International》1981,66(3):553-578

Summary. Recent results from the analysis of postglacial rebound data suggest that the viscosity of the Earth's mantle increases through the transition region. Models which fit both relative sea-level and free air gravity data have viscosities which increase from a value near 10²² poise in the upper mantle beneath the lithosphere to a value of about 10²³ poise in the lower mantle. In this paper we analyse the effect of deglaciation upon the Earth's rotation and thereby show that the observed secular trend (polar wander) evident in the ILS—IPMS pole path, and measurements of the non-tidal acceleration of the length of day, are both consistent with the viscosity profile deduced from postglacial rebound. The two analyses are therefore mutually reinforcing.  相似文献   

Model of the geoelectrical structure of the mid- and lower mantle in the Europe–Asia region     

V. YU. Semenov  & W. Jozwiak 《Geophysical Journal International》1999,138(2):549-552

The conductivity structure of the Earth's mantle was estimated using the induction method down to 2100  km depth for the Europe–Asia region. For this purpose, the responses obtained at seven geomagnetic observatories (IRT, KIV, MOS, NVS, HLP, WIT and NGK) were analysed, together with reliable published results for 11  yr variations. 1-D spherical modelling has shown that, beneath the mid-mantle conductive layer (600–800  km), the conductivity increases slowly from about 1  S  m⁻¹ at 1000  km depth to 10  S  m⁻¹ at 1900  km, while further down (1900–2100  km) this increase is faster. Published models of the lower mantle conductivity obtained using the secular, 30–60  yr variations were also considered, in order to estimate the conductivity at depths down to the core. The new regional model of the lower mantle conductivity does not contradict most modern geoelectrical sounding results. This model supports the idea that the mantle base, situated below 2100  km depth, has a very high conductivity.  相似文献   

Crust and upper mantle structure of the central Iberian Meseta (Spain)   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

E. Banda  E. Suriñach  A. Aparicio  J. Sierra  E. Ruiz de la Parte 《Geophysical Journal International》1981,67(3):779-789

Summary. Quarry blasts recorded along three lines on the central Iberian Meseta are used in an attempt to interpret the crustal structure. The results of the interpretation of the data, together with published surface wave and earthquake data, suggest a layered structure of the crust having the following features: the basement, in some areas covered by up to 4 km of sediments, has a P -velocity of 6.1 km s⁻¹; a low-velocity layer, between 7 and 11 km depth, seems to exist on the basis of both P and S interpretation of seismic data; a thick middle crust of 12 km has a P -velocity of 6.4 km s⁻¹ and overlies a lower crust with a mean P -velocity of 6.9 km s⁻¹ and a possible slight negative gradient; the mean v _p/ v _s ratio for the crust is about 1.75; the Moho is reached at about 31 km depth and consists of a transition zone at least 1.5 km thick. The P -velocity of the upper mantle is close to 8.1 km s⁻¹ and the S -velocity about 4.5 km s⁻¹, which gives a v _p /v _s ratio of 1.8 for the uppermost mantle. A tentative petrological interpretation of the velocities and composition of the layers is given.  相似文献   

Mass Movement of Mancos Shale Crust Near Caineville, Utah: A 30-year Record     

Andrew E. Godfrey 《Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography》1997,79(3):185-194

Rates of soil creep were studied periodically over a 30-year period in southeastern Utah on Mancos Shale badland slopes averaging 35 degrees. More intensive studies were carried out over a 10-year period on slopes averaging 40 degrees. On the 35 degree slope the average rate of movement was 2.71 cm yr⁻¹.On the 40 degree slopes, rates varied from 3.14 to 5.94 cm yr⁻¹.
Individual rates of movement varied widely, but average movement of a given line was consistent. No statistical differences in rates of movement were found between north- and south-facing slopes.
About two-thirds of the total movement occurred during the winter/spring period; episodes of rapid movement coincided with years in which storms deposited at least 0.6 cm of precipitation per day for at least two consecutive days. Downslope rotation of nails indicates that creep involves only the top few centimeters of soil.  相似文献   

Magnetic and viscous coupling at the core–mantle boundary: inferences from observations of the Earth's nutations     

B. A. Buffett  U. R. Christensen 《Geophysical Journal International》2007,171(1):145-152

Dissipative core–mantle coupling is evident in observations of the Earth's nutations, although the source of this coupling is uncertain. Magnetic coupling occurs when conducting materials on either side of the boundary move through a magnetic field. In order to explain the nutation observations with magnetic coupling, we must assume a high (metallic) conductivity on the mantle side of the boundary and a rms radial field of 0.69 mT. Much of this field occurs at short wavelengths, which cannot be observed directly at the surface. High levels of short-wavelength field impose demands on the power needed to regenerate the field through dynamo action in the core. We use a numerical dynamo model from the study of Christensen & Aubert (2006) to assess whether the required short-wavelength field is physically plausible. By scaling the numerical solution to a model with sufficient short-wavelength field, we obtain a total ohmic dissipation of 0.7–1 TW, which is within current uncertainties. Viscous coupling is another possible explanation for the nutation observations, although the effective viscosity required for this is 0.03 m² s⁻¹ or higher. Such high viscosities are commonly interpreted as an eddy viscosity. However, physical considerations and laboratory experiments limit the eddy viscosity to 10⁻⁴ m² s⁻¹, which suggests that viscous coupling can only explain a few percent of the dissipative torque between the core and the mantle.  相似文献   

Impact of regional mantle flow on subducting plate geometry and interplate stress: insights from physical modelling     

David A. Boutelier  Alexander R. Cruden 《Geophysical Journal International》2008,174(2):719-732

Physical models of subduction investigate the impact of regional mantle flow on the structure of the subducted slab and deformation of the downgoing and overriding plates. The initial mantle flow direction beneath the overriding plate can be horizontal or vertical, depending on its location with respect to the asthenospheric flow field. Imposed mantle flow produces either over or underpressure on the lower surface of the slab depending on the initial mantle flow pattern (horizontal or vertical, respectively). Overpressure promotes shallow dip subduction while underpressure tends to steepen the slab. Horizontal mantle flow with rates of 1–10 cm yr⁻¹ provides sufficient overpressure on a dense subducting lithosphere to obtain a subduction angle of  ∼60°  , while the same lithospheric slab sinks vertically when no flow is imposed. Vertical drag force (due to downward mantle flow) exerted on a slab can result in steep subduction if the slab is neutrally buoyant but fails to produce steep subduction of buoyant oceanic lithosphere. The strain regime in the overriding plate due to the asthenospheric drag force depends largely on slab geometry. When the slab dip is steeper than the interplate zone, the drag force produces negative additional normal stress on the interplate zone and tensile horizontal stress in the overriding plate. When the slab dip is shallower than the interplate zone, an additional positive normal stress is produced on the interplate zone and the overriding plate experiences additional horizontal compressive stress. However, the impact of the mantle drag force on interplate pressure is small compared to the influence of the slab pull force since these stress variations can only be observed when the slab is dense and interplate pressure is low.  相似文献