Digital simulation on convergence tendency between Southwest Tienshan and Pamirs-West Kunlun systems and its significance

Abstract

The collision between India plate and Eurasia continent 55 Ma ago caused the convergence between Southwest Tienshan and Pamirs tectonic systems, and conclusions by other researchers also suggest that the convergence will continue. Studies on the collision between these systems are helpful to the knowledge of the history and the tendency of the in-land tectonics since Cenozoic and are important in science and the real world as for environment changes, resources and energy reform, and forecast of earthquakes. For this reason, by means of digital modeling, on the basis of crustal shortening rate, crustal motion rate and data of physical properties of rocks, with the help of the FE (finite element) theory-based marc software, the United States, we address on the tendency of the convergence in this area in almost 10 Ma and draw a conclusion that the converged borders move northward and stretch southeast. The Southwest Tienshan will move more slowly and suffer less deformation than the Pamirs-West Kunlun (昆仑) system. The Pamirs-West Kunlun system will rotate counterclockwise while moving northward and extending westward.