Elastic Thickness Of Lithosphere Research Articles

Variations of Heat Flux and Elastic Thickness of Mercury From 3‐D Thermal Evolution Modeling

AbstractMercury's low obliquity and 3:2 spin‐orbit resonance create a surface temperature distribution with large latitudinal and longitudinal variations. These propagate via thermal conduction through the thin silicate shell influencing the interior temperature distribution. We use 3‐D thermal evolution models to investigate the effects of lateral variations of surface temperature and crustal thickness on the surface and core‐mantle boundary (CMB) heat fluxes, and elastic thickness distribution. Surface temperature variations cause a long‐wavelength perturbation of the heat fluxes, as well as of the elastic lithosphere thickness, while variations in crustal thickness affect these quantities at small spatial scales. Like the surface temperature, the present‐day CMB heat flux pattern is characterized primarily by spherical harmonics of degrees two and four, which could affect dynamo generation. Placing robust constraints on the thermal evolution based on the available estimates of the age and thickness of the elastic lithosphere remains challenging due to their large uncertainties.

The Ancient Lithospheric Parameters of Impact Basins on the Far Side of the Moon Based on the Mantle and Mare Basalt Load Model

AbstractResearch on the lithospheric elastic thickness (Te) of lunar mascon basins can provide a deeper understanding of heterogeneous thermal activity. In this study, we focused on four basins (Moscoviense, Freundlich‐Sharonov, Hertzsprung, and Apollo) located on the far side of the Moon. These basins exhibit a significant variation in admittance and correlation spectra, making it challenging to develop precise fitted models. Based on the global lunar crustal thickness model and mare basalt thickness, we developed a mantle and mare basalt load model to estimate the Te. This small Te (10.1 km) suggests a double impact process or extreme thermal activity caused by volcanism during the formation of the Moscoviense. For the typical highland basins, that is, Freundlich‐Sharonov and Hertzsprung, the Te (∼20 km) corresponds to a minimum heat flux of 34 mW m−2. Considering the additional energy introduced by the impact, this heat flux can be considered as the upper limit for the heat flux of the highland itself during the formation of a mascon basin. For the Apollo basin within the South Pole‐Aitken (SPA) terrane, the Te is 30.7 km. The crust beneath the SPA region is thinned, allowing a greater contribution of stiffer mantle material to the lithosphere, perhaps explaining the higher effective Te. Furthermore, the disparity between the highland and SPA terranes can give rise to their distinct basin formation processes. Impact basins formed within the SPA terrane may have experienced a faster cooling process compared to those formed on the highland terrane following the impact event, leading to a higher Te.

Gravity evidence for a heterogeneous crust of Mercury

We modeled gravity data to explore Mercury’s internal structure and show the presence of crustal heterogeneities in density. We first evaluated the lithospheric flexure occurring in the spherical harmonic degree range 5–80, according to the flexural isostatic response curve. We thus estimated a mean elastic lithosphere thickness of about 30 pm 10 km and modeled the crust-mantle interface, which varies from 19 to 42 km depth, according to a flexural compensation model. The isostatic gravity anomalies were then obtained as the residual field with respect to the contributions from topography and lithospheric flexure. Isostatic anomalies are mainly related to density variations in the crust: gravity highs mostly correspond to large-impact basins suggesting intra-crustal magmatic intrusions as the main origin of these anomalies. Isostatic gravity lows prevail, instead, above intercrater plains and may represent the signature of a heavily fractured crust.

Study on effective elastic thickness of lithosphere and its tectonic significance in surrounding area of Ordos Block

Based on EIGEN6C4 gravity field model data and ETOPO1 topographic data, we adopt the correlation analysis method based on Fan wavelet to calculate and analyze the distribution characteristics of effective elastic thickness (Te) and load ratio (F) of lithosphere in surrounding of Ordos block. On this basis, the relationship between the lithosphere Te and geological structure, seismic distribution, terrestrial heat flow and crustal deformation is analyzed. The results show that the lithosphere Te in the surrounding area of the Ordos block is obviously different among the tectonic blocks. The lithosphere Te value is low in the south of Qinling orogenic belt and the east of Fen-Wei graben basin. The maximum lithosphere Te value is distributed in the northwest and northeast margin of Ordos block. The lithosphere Te value is negatively correlated with the load ratio F. Earthquakes mainly occur in areas with low lithosphere Te value. Small lithosphere Te value indicates low strength of lithosphere. In such areas, the ability to resist crustal deformation is weak, and it is easy to generate stress accumulation and breed earthquakes. The area with high terrestrial heat flow value corresponds to low lithosphere Te value, showing a negative correlation. However, this negative correlation does not exist in the northwest margin of Ordos Block and Alashan border area, and the eastern margin of Ordos Lvliangshan area. Haiyuan-Liupanshan area has strong tectonic activity, frequent earthquakes and low lithosphere Te value. The internal strain accumulation of Ordos block is small, and the lithosphere Te value is high. The strain rate of the northern Shanxi fault depression zone is large, but the lithosphere Te value is also large, it is speculated that the terrestrial heat flow is the main factor affecting the lithosphere Te value.

Lithospheric Elastic Thickness Beneath the Caloris Basin: Implications for the Thermal Structure of Mercury

AbstractThe elastic thickness of a planet's lithosphere is essential to the investigation of its thermal evolution. Our work focuses on the largest visible impact basin on Mercury, Caloris, which has undergone complex magma‐tectonic deformation after its formation. Using a flexural lithosphere model with the initial mantle plug loading, we estimated the elastic thickness in the Caloris region to be 18.0 4.4 km. The successful application of the mantle loading model and the small load ratio indicates that major load in the Caloris region is the mantle plug rather than the lateral density anomaly. The 18 km effective elastic thickness indicates the lithospheric temperature at the time of loading. The current heat production rate in Mercury mantle is estimated as 2.2–4.2 × 10−12 W/kg. Comparison between the effective elastic thickness predicted from the thermal model and loading model suggests that the megaregolith in the Caloris basin region has a certain thickness (>3 km) to ensure the formation of a lithosphere with 18 km elastic thickness. The temperature model results also indicate that the mantle heat production rate at 3.6 Ga is closer to that calculated based on a model with heat‐producing elements abundance close to CI chondrite‐like primitive silicate portion of Mercury. The surface heat flow in the Caloris region is consistent with other megaregolith‐covered regions.

The coherence function and lithospheric elastic thickness of the Zagros fold and thrust belt

SUMMARY This study derives the spatial variation of the elastic thickness (Te) and its implications for understanding the structure, geodynamic and seismicity of the lithosphere for the Zagros fold and thrust belt region of the Arabia–Eurasia collision zone. Te is calculated using the coherence function in the fan wavelet domain based on recent terrestrial Bouguer gravity and topography data as input signals. Utilizing the load deconvolution method and Brent's method of 1-D minimization, the final Te for the survey region is estimated for each grid node of the studied area. To illustrate the mass distribution in the studied area, the subsurface loading fraction (F) is calculated simultaneously with Te in the inversion. The crust thickness and density from three different global crustal models are tested and the results obtained for these input models do not yield substantially different Te patterns. The final results are in accord with the global Te models as well as previous rheological, geodynamical and flexural studies, however, this study establishes much more detailed regional information. The calculations yield a mean value of Te of 61 km for the Zagros, with a mean estimated error of about 5 km. The high-Te values (>70 km) are observed in the southeast of the studied area (some parts of the Sanandaj–Sirjan zone, Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic arc and most of the Central Iranian blocks); while over most of the northwest of the studied area, the value of Te is about 58 km. The Te results are consistent with the lithospheric structure of the study area and also support the idea of the crust–mantle decoupling. Further, there is a positive and negative correlation between the surface wave velocity and surface heat flow, respectively. The mean value estimated for the internal loading friction (F) of 0.4 means in most of the studied areas we may consider that the surface loading is dominant, or at least the ratio of the surface and subsurface loading can be assumed equal. Based on earthquake distribution in the period 1900–2020, seismicity is more likely to occur in areas with a relatively low value of Te.

The Role of Isostasy in the Evolution and Architecture of Fold and Thrust Belts

Abstract Warmer conditions prevalent in the hinterland of orogenic systems facilitate local ductile flow underneath the surface load, making Airy-like local isostasy more prevalent in these domains. In contrast, flexural isostasy better describes the regional response to surface loading of more rigid lithospheres. Here, we explore how the interaction between horizontal tectonic mass transfer and vertical isostatic mass transfer, through either elastic flexure or viscous flow, impacts the overall architecture of fold and thrust belts. We compare numerical models of fold and thrust belts under either an Airy-like ductile isostasy boundary condition or a flexural-like regional isostasy boundary condition. Our experiments suggest that when ductile flow is involved in accommodating isostatic adjustment, subsidence is rather local, larger, and results in narrower, less elevated fold-thrust belts with a complex internal architecture consisting of prominent steeply dipping faults. When isostatic subsidence is controlled by lithospheric flexure, the tilting of the basement on 10 s of km scale facilitates the outward propagation of fold-thrust belts. The internal architecture is simpler and involves prominent basement-parallel décollements. The outcome is wider fold and thrust belts with higher topographies. A change in lithospheric elastic thickness does not significantly affect fold-thrust belt structural styles. Our results are compared to natural examples from the Subandean zone.

Tidal Constraints on the Martian Interior

AbstractWe compare several recent Martian interior models and evaluate how these are impacted by the tidal constraints provided by the Love number k2 and the secular acceleration in longitude s of its main moon, Phobos. The expression of the latter is developed up to harmonic degree 5 to match the accuracy of the current observations. We match a number of current interior structure models to the recent measurements of the tidal parameters and derive estimations of the possible core radius, temperature profile, and attenuation in the Martian interior. Our estimation of the core radius is 1,820 ± 80 km, consistent with recent seismic measurements. The attenuation profiles in the Martian interior at the main tidal period of Phobos are similar between the considered models, giving a range for the degree‐2 bulk tidal attenuation Q2 = 93.0 ± 8.40 but diverge at seismic frequencies. At seismic frequencies, model shear attenuation Qμ ranges between 100 and 4,000 in the lower mantle, so that a measurement of seismic shear attenuation could be used as an effective means for distinguishing between the models considered. Other constraints such as elastic lithosphere thickness and Chandler Wobble period favor a thicker elastic lithosphere and models with a frequency dependence α of the shear attenuation between 0.15 and 0.4. Improved constraints on the Martian interior should be possible with additional seismic and radio observations from the InSight mission.

Deep and surface driving forces that shape the Earth: Insights from the evolution of the northern South China sea margin

The sediments and their temporal and spatial distribution on Earth are the archives of interaction between deep and surface processes. Numerous simulations have attempted to decipher the evolution of landscape and sedimentary basins. However, it remains a challenge to couple paleogeographic evolution with deep geodynamics, especially at the continental margins such as the Northern South China Sea Margin (NSCSM). Here we employ a numerical simulating tool (Badlands) for the tectono-sedimentary evolution of the NSCSM to test and compare our restored interpolated paleo-bathymetries with previously published paleogeography. Based on the subsequent reconstruction of cumulative sediment thicknesses at the distal boundary of the continental margin, we found that the erodibility and elastic thickness of the lithosphere are the best-fitted and the most promising parameters to isostatically deal with deep dynamics in controlling regional topography. According to our findings, the Early Oligocene and Early Miocene are two stages of high erodibility and fast uplifting in the source provenances or weathering regions as well as lithospheric strengthening. In contrast, the lower values of elastic thickness indicate the Eocene rifting and Late Miocene reactivation of extension due to its lithospheric weakening, relative to the post-rift thickening.Plain language summary: Transient deep and surface processes actively participated in the geography of Earth’s landscape and sediment distribution. It takes millions of years for these processes and remains challenging to investigate the past landscape evolution. However, in the era of numerical modelling and more advanced research, it is now possible to solve many scientific questions. This study also attempted to find paleogeographic core findings based on the combined effect of deep and surface processes using a numerical simulation tool, Badland. Finally, we establish an erosion as a surface leading factor and an elastic thickness of lithosphere and mantle convection as the deep dynamic factors, to effect the Earth’s surface landscape and link with the accumulation of sediments.

Upper Mantle Viscosity Underneath Northern Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula Constrained by Bedrock Uplift and Ice Mass Variability

AbstractWe constrain viscoelastic Earth rheology and recent ice‐mass change in the northern Marguerite Bay region of the Antarctic Peninsula. Global Positioning System (GPS) time series from Rothera and San Martin stations show bedrock uplift range of ∼−0.8–1.8 mm/year over 1999–2005 and 2016–2020 but ∼3.5–6.0 mm/year over ∼2005–2016. Digital elevation models reveal substantial surface lowering, but at a lower rate since ∼2009. Using these data, we show that an elastic‐only model cannot explain the non‐linear uplift of the GPS sites but that a layered viscoelastic model can. We show close agreement between GPS uplift changes and viscoelastic models with effective elastic lithosphere thickness and upper‐mantle viscosity ∼10–95 km and ∼0.1−9 × 1018 Pa s, respectively. Our viscosity estimate is consistent with a north‐south gradient in viscosity suggested by previous studies focused on specific regions within the Antarctic Peninsula and adds further evidence of the low viscosity upper mantle in the northern Antarctic Peninsula.

Tectonism and Enhanced Cryovolcanic Potential Around a Loaded Sputnik Planitia Basin, Pluto

AbstractSputnik Planitia on Pluto is a vast plain consisting of a nitrogen ice deposit filling a broad topographic depression, likely an impact basin. The basin displays a broad, raised rim and is surrounded by numerous extensional fault systems, each with characteristic orientations with respect to the basin center. The nitrogen ice exerts a large mechanical load on the water ice outer shell crust (here also containing the lithosphere). We calculate models of stress and deformation related to this load, varying dimensional, mechanical, and boundary condition properties of the load and Pluto's lithosphere, in order to constrain the conditions that led to the formation of the observed tectonic and topographic signals. We demonstrate that the tectonic configuration is diagnostic of a particular set of conditions that hold for the Sputnik basin and Pluto, including moderate elastic lithosphere thickness (40–75 km, with higher values favored if initial basin topography is compensated) and a basin that was pan‐shaped and shallow (∼3 km) at the time of nitrogen deposition initiation. These tectonic systems show the contributions of both flexural (bending) and membrane (stretching) responses of the lithosphere, with the latter dominating in proportion to the importance of spherical geometry effects. Rim topography may also show an influence of primordial annular trans‐basin ice shell thickening from the impact process. Analysis of stress‐driven cryomagma transport shows that loading stresses can facilitate ascent of cryomagmas in annular zones around the basin, the locations of which overlap the observed distances from Sputnik of several candidate cryovolcanic sites.

Effects of asthenospheric flow and orographic precipitation on continental rifting

Asthenosphere-lithosphere interactions modulated by surface processes generate outstanding topographies and sedimentary basins, but the nature of these interactions and the mechanisms through which they control the evolution of extensional tectonic settings are elusive. Basal lithospheric shearing due to plume-related mantle flow leads to extensional lithospheric rupturing and associated magmatism, rock exhumation, and topographic uplift away from the plume axis by a distance inversely correlated to the lithospheric elastic thickness. When moisturized air encounters a topographic barrier, it rises, decompresses, and saturates, leading to enhanced erosion on the windward side of the uplifted terrain. Orographic precipitation and asymmetric erosional unloading facilitate strain localization and lithospheric rupturing on the wetter and more eroded side of an extensional system. This simple analytical model is validated against thermo-mechanical numerical experiments where a rheologically stratified lithosphere above an asthenospheric plume is subject to fluvial erosion proportional to stream power during extension. Our modeling results are consistent with Paleogene mantle upwelling and flood basalts in Ethiopia synchronous to distal initiation of lithospheric stretching/rupturing in the Gulf of Aden, which progressively propagates into the Red Sea. The present-day asymmetric topography and extensional structures in the Main Ethiopian Rift may also be an effect of a Neogene-to-present orographic erosional gradient. Although inherently related to the lithosphere rheology, the evolution of continental rifts appears even more conditioned by the mantle and surface dynamics than previously thought.

Effects of a Weak Lower Crust on the Flexure of Continental Lithosphere

AbstractPrevious studies of flexure in continental settings assert that the elastic thickness of a multilayer lithosphere is controlled by the mechanically competent layer thicknesses only, following a cubic rule. More specifically, the cubic rule states Te = (Te13+Te23+ … Ten3)1/3, where Te is the total elastic thickness, and Tei is the elastic thickness of each competent layer. However, it is not necessarily clear that Te should be insensitive to the properties of intermediate weak layers (e.g., a weak lower crust) which may act to decouple the surface load from lower competent layers. To test this idea, we formulate 2D viscoelastic loading models with layered viscosity to compute the fully dynamic, time‐dependent response of a multilayer lithosphere with a weak lower crust. Results show that the flexural response of a multilayer lithosphere to a surface load is initially consistent with the cubic rule. However, this solution is transient because the stress associated with the load cannot be transmitted through the weak lower crust on long timescales. Stress in the mantle lithosphere relaxes with time and eventually does not support the load at all due to the decoupling effect of flow in the weak lower crust. The steady state flexure of a multilayer lithosphere is controlled solely by the mechanically competent upper crust such that Te = Te1, and this new rule is the major finding of this study. Our new findings now explain small estimates of Te in continental settings with thick mantle lithosphere such as the Northern Tien Shan, which previously, were poorly explained by the cubic rule.

Evidence for a Locally Thinned Lithosphere Associated With Recent Volcanism at Aramaiti Corona, Venus

AbstractHeat flow estimates of terrestrial planets and icy satellites are important for exploring their thermal evolution. Topographic signatures of flexure can be used to estimate the effective elastic lithospheric thickness, he, and heat flow. Here, we use high resolution stereo topography and axisymmetric elastic flexure models to investigate lithospheric flexure around Narina Tholus, a steep‐sided volcanic dome ∼40 km across that superposes the tectonic annulus of Aramaiti Corona. Our results indicate a best‐fit elastic thickness he = 3.9–9.1 km, for values of Young's modulus, E, ranging from 65 to 5 GPa respectively. This suggests a thinned lithosphere locally around Narina Tholus, compared to regional estimates for he. The lower values of E are appropriate to the heavily fractured environment of the corona annulus, and we find that they predict flexural stresses compatible with the limited fracturing observed around Narina Tholus. A global survey yielded 13 additional tholi (or tholi groups) at coronae and with stereo coverage, none of which showed evidence for flexure. We find, that locally at Narina Tholus, the heat flow is elevated by a factor of 2–4 relative to that inferred from a previous study of flexure at Aramaiti, consistent with late‐stage, possibly recent, volcanism focused at, and facilitated by, the fracture annulus. Our results further strengthen arguments for a currently volcanically active planet and demonstrate the role that high‐resolution stereo topography can play in elucidating the current thermal state of Venus.

The temporal viscoelastic model of flexural isostasy for estimating the elastic thickness of the lithosphere

SUMMARY The (effective) elastic thickness of the lithosphere defines the strength of the lithosphere with respect to a load on it. Since the lithosphere is buoyant on a viscous mantle, its behaviour with respect to a load is not fully elastic, but rather viscoelastic. Fennoscandia is a well-known area in the world where the lithosphere has not yet reached its isostatic equilibrium due to the ongoing uplift after the last glacial period at the end of the Pleistocene. To accommodate for this changing property of the lithosphere in time, we present the flexural model of isostasy that accommodates temporal variations of the lithospheric flexure. We then define a theoretical model for computing the elastic thickness of the lithosphere based on combining the flexural and gravimetric models of isostasy. We demonstrate that differences between the elastic and viscoelastic models are not that significant in Fennoscandia. This finding is explained by a relatively young age of the glacial load when compared to the Maxwell relaxation time. The approximation of an elastic shell is then permissible in order to determine the lithospheric structure and its properties. In this way, the elastic thickness can be estimated based on combining gravimetric and flexural models of isostasy. This approach takes into consideration the topographic and ocean-floor (bathymetric) relief as well as the lithospheric structural composition and the post-glacial rebound. In addition, rheological properties of the lithosphere are taken into consideration by means of involving the Young modulus and the Poisson ratio in the model, both parameters determined from seismic velocities. The results reveal that despite changes in the Moho geometry attributed to the glacial isostatic adjustment in Fennoscandia are typically less than 1 km, the corresponding changes in the lithospheric elastic thickness could reach or even exceed ±50 km. The sensitivity analysis confirms that even small changes in input parameters could significantly modify the result (i.e. the elastic thickness estimates). The reason is that the elastic thickness estimation is an inverse problem. Consequently, small changes in input parameters can lead to large changes in the elastic thickness estimates. These findings indicate that a robust estimation of the elastic thickness by our method is possible if comprehensive information about structural and rheological properties of the lithosphere as input parameters are known with a relatively high accuracy. Otherwise, even small uncertainties in these parameters could result in large errors in the elastic thickness estimates.

The effect of altimetry data in estimating the elastic thickness of the lithosphere in the western Pacific Ocean

The elastic thickness of the lithosphere (Te) is a key parameter used to describe the strength of the lithosphere. It is usually estimated by a spectral analysis between gravity and topography. In previous research on the estimation of Te, altimetry data were used on both the gravity data and topography data, which could lead to deviations. The study described in this paper analyzed the effects of using gravity anomalies derived from different data sources on the estimation of Te. Taking the western Pacific region as an example, this study analyzed the impact of the repeated presence of altimetry satellite data on the calculation of the effective elastic thickness and found that if gravity anomalies and topography model both contain altimetry satellite data, they systematically overestimate effective elasticity. For a uniform area, the difference in Te can reach up to 30%. For a Te distribution, the difference can reach up to about 16%. After eliminating this effect, the effective elastic thickness of the western Pacific region was found to be 10 km, and the statistical results of the effective elastic thickness distribution showed that the effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere in most areas of the western Pacific is about 12 km. The paper shows the importance of choosing the appropriate gravity model in evaluating the elastic thickness of lithosphere in the oceans. A figure of Te at seamounts with loading ages demonstrates that Te in the western Pacific is generally distributed within the 100–300 °C isotherm depth and does not increase with loading age.

Estimating the effective elastic thickness of the Arctic lithosphere using the wavelet coherence method: Tectonic implications

Currently, knowledge of structure and tectonic evolution of the Arctic lithosphere remains limited. The effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere (Te) is a parameter that describes the lithospheric integrated strength and reflects its thermal and rheological properties, which helps to reveal intraplate tectonic process. In this study, we present a high-resolution Te model in the Arctic region (north of 67°N), which is highly heterogeneous and strongly correlated with various regional tectonic elements. To verify the recovered Te, its pattern is compared to those obtained in previous studies that used different methods and to available heat flow measurements and seismic velocity model and shows good agreement. High Te values are found in the Greenland shield, North American craton and Siberian craton, which are compatible with results from previous studies of high seismic velocity and low heat flow, suggesting that cold, thick lithosphere remains tectonically undisturbed. Low Te values occur in the Amerasia Basin, Baffin Bay, Eurasia Basin and North Atlantic Ocean where young oceanic lithosphere is created. Moreover, the areas affected by regional volcanism in the Siberian Traps and HALIP are dominated by reductions in Te, which we attribute to thermal rejuvenation triggered by the intrusion of magma. Weak lithosphere also dominates in tectonically active orogens as well, including the Alaska-Chukotka, Novaya Zemlya and Caledonides, and is related to the stress released during collisional deformation. We find that a few deep sedimentary basins are characterized by intermediate Te, which implies mechanical support of the surface sediment loads in a non-isostatic state. Our new Te model provides potentially significant insights into various tectonic and geodynamic problems of the Arctic lithosphere.

Determination of elastic thickness of the lithosphere using gravity and topography data: a case study for the Golpayegan, Arak, and the Qom Blocks

The elastic thickness, Te, is a measure of the strength of the lithosphere under loading and its elastic behavior. While there have been previous investigations on the nature of the lithosphere of Iran using satellite gravity and topography data, here, for the first time, using high-resolution gravity data we determine the elastic thickness for the Iranian lithosphere on a small scale, focusing on a region including Golpayegan, Arak, and Qom Blocks. The lithospheric elastic thickness is calculated using a wavelet transform method. The technique uses a superposition of two-dimensional Morlet wavelets that yields isotropic yet complex wavelet coefficients for the auto- and cross-spectra of gravity and topography data. These are subsequently applied to compute a spatially varying, isostatic coherence, from which both global and local estimates may be obtained. We applied the method to synthetic gravity and topography data generated for a thin elastic plate of uniform elastic thickness. After testing the validity of the technique on synthetic data, it was applied on real terrestrial gravity and topography data obtained from the National Cartographic Center (NCC) with grid spacing of 5 km. The average value calculated for the elastic thickness in the study area is 28 km which is in good accordance with the geological/tectonic structure of the region and previous interpretations for lithospheric strength based on geophysics and geodynamic studies.

Tectonics and Landscape of the Central African Plateau and their Implications for a Propagating Southwestern Rift in Africa

AbstractThe Central African Plateau (CAP) covers a million square kilometers of African lithosphere absent of recent volcanism and intense seismicity. Treating the CAP erosion surface as a reference frame for measuring continental deformation reveals an active landscape of normal fault systems and crustal flexures. Free‐air gravity anomalies over the CAP reveal both a short‐wavelength (100–200 km) flexural and a longer‐wavelength (>500 km) mantle convective signature. Apatite fission track thermochronometry records the onset of regional cooling of the erosion surface below 60 °C between 38 and 22 Ma. The erosion surface was formed by the Latest Miocene and elevated to its present altitude (1,200 ± 50 m) in the Latest Miocene/Pliocene. High‐resolution Shuttle Radar Topography Mission‐ and LIDAR‐based digital elevation models of the erosion surface show active fault terraces and alluvial fan deformation associated with pre‐existing rift border faults. Flexural modeling of the footwall uplift of the Luangwa Rift border fault yields an effective elastic thickness of the CAP lithosphere of ~35 km. The rifting initiated in the Pliocene with, or soon after, elevation of the CAP. Subsequent Plio‐Pleistocene deformation of the CAP surface controls the Congo and Zambezi drainage systems and wetland locations. The CAP rifts link southwestward through the Zambezi, Kafue and Muchili Rifts to the Pleistocene aged Okavango and Eiseb Rifts of Botswana and Namibia, defining a propagating Southwestern Rift cutting the Nubian Plate. This active rift system developed along relatively thin (~150 km) lithosphere between the Congo and Kalahari cratons within crust inherited from Neoproterozoic collisional tectonics.

Reduced ice mass loss and three-dimensional viscoelastic deformation in northern Antarctic Peninsula inferred from GPS

SUMMARY We consider the viscoelastic rheology of the solid Earth under the Antarctic Peninsula due to ice mass loss that commenced after the breakup of the Larsen-B ice shelf. We extend the previous analysis of nearby continuous GPS time-series to include five additional years and the additional consideration of the horizontal components of deformation. They show strong uplift from ∼2002 to 2011 followed by reduced uplift rates to 2018. Modelling the GPS-derived uplift as a viscoelastic response to ongoing regional ice unloading from a new ice model confirms earlier estimates of low upper-mantle viscosities of ∼0.3–3 × 1018 Pa s in this region but allows a wide range of elastic lithosphere thickness. The observed and modelled north coordinate component shows little nonlinear variation due to the location of ice mass change to the east of the GPS sites. However, comparison of the observed and modelled east coordinate component constrains the upper-mantle viscosity to be less than ∼9 × 1018 Pa s, consistent with the viscosity range suggested by the uplift rates alone and providing important, largely independent, confirmation of that result. Our horizontal analysis showed only marginal sensitivity to modelled lithospheric thickness. The results for the horizontal components are sensitive to the adopted plate rotation model, with the estimate based on ITRF2014 suggesting that the sum of residual plate motion and pre-2002 glacial isostatic adjustment is likely less than ∼±0.5 mm yr−1 in the east component.