Dynamics of the Present‐Day Crustal Movement in the China Mainland

Abstract

AbstractWe employ the finite element method to perform modeling for the crustal and lithospheric movement in the China mainland and its neighboring areas. In the modeling we use a viscous sheet (Newtonian and non‐Newtonian) to simulate the continental lithosphere. By solving the force balance equations, we obtain the velocity field of China continental crust with respect to Eurasia plate and compare them with the recent Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements. Our result shows that the primary driving force source accounting for the crustal movement in this region is from the collision between the India and Eurasia plates as well as the huge gravity potential energy of the Qinghai‐Xizang plateau. In comparison, the contribution from the former is larger than the latter. The result also indicates that the media of the China lithosphere has a strong heterogeneity of rheology, which results in its block‐division feature of the present‐day crustal velocity field.