Abstract
We compute geoid slopes from models of subduction in which the subducted lithosphere is much stronger than the surrounding mantle. Geoid slope contributions from both the lithospheric slab and mantle boundary deformations are computed from finite element analysis of mantle flow. The finite element model includes a slab of finite length and a depth dependent Newtonian rheology for the surrounding mantle. We find that observed geoid anomalies at subduction zones, which are positive, cannot be matched by models with uniform mantle viscosity. However, even with a strong subducted lithosphere, the ratio of driving load to boundary deformation is significantly increased by a ten‐fold increase of viscosity with depth, resulting in a geoid high. We find that the sign of the geoid slopes within 3000 km of the trench are independent of maximum depth of the slab for maximum depths from 700 km to 2800 km.
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