View in EDS PDF Full Text

Dynamics of convergent plate margins: Progress and challenge.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Dynamics of convergent plate margins: Progress and challenge.
Authors: Li, Zhong-Hai1 (AUTHOR) li.zhonghai@ucas.ac.cn, Wang, Yang1 (AUTHOR), Cui, Qihua1 (AUTHOR), Fu, Hui-Ying1 (AUTHOR), Cui, Fengyuan1 (AUTHOR), Huangfu, Pengpeng1 (AUTHOR)
Source: SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences. Dec2025, Vol. 68 Issue 12, p4033-4061. 29p.
Subjects: Plate tectonics, Subduction zones, Subduction, Lithosphere, Orogeny, Earth movements, Structural geology
Geographic Terms: East Asia, Himalaya Mountains
Abstract: The evolution of convergent plate margins includes a series of long-term and successive processes from subduction initiation (SI) through mature oceanic subduction to continental subduction and collision, leading to possible mountain building in different stages. This evolution pathway is one of the most important expressions of plate tectonics, which controls the mass and energy exchange between the Earth's surface and interior and produces the majority of volcanisms and great earthquakes. Based on extensive geological/geophysical observations and geodynamic simulations, we systematically summarize key tectonic and dynamic issues during SI, oceanic subduction, and continental collision and further propose several major unresolved scientific questions and future research directions. (1) For the SI, it generally requires the combination of multiple driving forces and, more importantly, lithospheric weakening. Thereby, it tends to occur at previous suture zones or weak belts. The geological records of SI include magmatic and metamorphic rocks formed in hot environments, as well as tectonic uplift/subsidence and accompanying sedimentary responses in cold environments. According to contrasting geological records, two different types of SI are defined: hot and cold. Hot SI prefers to be driven by a vertical force, whereas cold SI is dominated by horizontal force. (2) For mature oceanic subduction, two typical styles include flat slab subduction beneath an overriding lithosphere and slab stagnation in the mantle transition zone. The favorable conditions of flat subduction include young oceanic slabs, thick oceanic crust, and strong coupling between converging plates. On the other hand, slab stagnation is generally controlled by the resistance from the 660-km discontinuity and the trench retreat. The subducting slab is the major carrier of volatiles (e.g., H2O and CO2) to the Earth's interior. The serpentinite layer beneath the oceanic crust plays a critical role in the transportation of water to the deep mantle, with the thickness and water content of serpentinite as controlling factors. The deep carbon cycling in subduction zone is controlled by multiple processes, including mechanical, metamorphic, dissolution, and partial melting-induced decarbonization. The flux of carbon cycling requires further systematic constraints. (3) For continental subduction, a deeply subducted lithosphere experiences metamorphic phase change and densification, which further results in considerable slab pull. Thereby, when the continental slab is dragged to great depths (e.g., >300 km), continental subduction could be self-sustained. One of the most important continental collisional zones is that of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. Its puzzling geodynamic issues include the mechanisms of multiple slab tearing of the underthrusting Indian plate, the deformation characteristics and material balance of the overriding plateau, and the collision-induced far-field intracontinental orogeny in central Asia. In addition, the coupling between these deep Earth tectonics and surficial processes (e.g., erosion and sedimentation) plays a significant role in shaping the Earth as well as its environment and climate effects. In summary, the research on the dynamics of convergent plate margins requires effective integrations of multiple geological, geophysical, and geochemical observations as well as the coupled thermodynamic and thermomechanical numerical models. They may jointly contribute to the ultimate solution of relevant unresolved scientific issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 189705669
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Dynamics of convergent plate margins: Progress and challenge.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Zhong-Hai%22">Li, Zhong-Hai</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> li.zhonghai@ucas.ac.cn</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Yang%22">Wang, Yang</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cui%2C+Qihua%22">Cui, Qihua</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fu%2C+Hui-Ying%22">Fu, Hui-Ying</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cui%2C+Fengyuan%22">Cui, Fengyuan</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Huangfu%2C+Pengpeng%22">Huangfu, Pengpeng</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22SCIENCE+CHINA+Earth+Sciences%22">SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 68 Issue 12, p4033-4061. 29p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plate+tectonics%22">Plate tectonics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Subduction+zones%22">Subduction zones</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Subduction%22">Subduction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lithosphere%22">Lithosphere</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Orogeny%22">Orogeny</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Earth+movements%22">Earth movements</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Structural+geology%22">Structural geology</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22East+Asia%22">East Asia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Himalaya+Mountains%22">Himalaya Mountains</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The evolution of convergent plate margins includes a series of long-term and successive processes from subduction initiation (SI) through mature oceanic subduction to continental subduction and collision, leading to possible mountain building in different stages. This evolution pathway is one of the most important expressions of plate tectonics, which controls the mass and energy exchange between the Earth's surface and interior and produces the majority of volcanisms and great earthquakes. Based on extensive geological/geophysical observations and geodynamic simulations, we systematically summarize key tectonic and dynamic issues during SI, oceanic subduction, and continental collision and further propose several major unresolved scientific questions and future research directions. (1) For the SI, it generally requires the combination of multiple driving forces and, more importantly, lithospheric weakening. Thereby, it tends to occur at previous suture zones or weak belts. The geological records of SI include magmatic and metamorphic rocks formed in hot environments, as well as tectonic uplift/subsidence and accompanying sedimentary responses in cold environments. According to contrasting geological records, two different types of SI are defined: hot and cold. Hot SI prefers to be driven by a vertical force, whereas cold SI is dominated by horizontal force. (2) For mature oceanic subduction, two typical styles include flat slab subduction beneath an overriding lithosphere and slab stagnation in the mantle transition zone. The favorable conditions of flat subduction include young oceanic slabs, thick oceanic crust, and strong coupling between converging plates. On the other hand, slab stagnation is generally controlled by the resistance from the 660-km discontinuity and the trench retreat. The subducting slab is the major carrier of volatiles (e.g., H2O and CO2) to the Earth's interior. The serpentinite layer beneath the oceanic crust plays a critical role in the transportation of water to the deep mantle, with the thickness and water content of serpentinite as controlling factors. The deep carbon cycling in subduction zone is controlled by multiple processes, including mechanical, metamorphic, dissolution, and partial melting-induced decarbonization. The flux of carbon cycling requires further systematic constraints. (3) For continental subduction, a deeply subducted lithosphere experiences metamorphic phase change and densification, which further results in considerable slab pull. Thereby, when the continental slab is dragged to great depths (e.g., >300 km), continental subduction could be self-sustained. One of the most important continental collisional zones is that of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. Its puzzling geodynamic issues include the mechanisms of multiple slab tearing of the underthrusting Indian plate, the deformation characteristics and material balance of the overriding plateau, and the collision-induced far-field intracontinental orogeny in central Asia. In addition, the coupling between these deep Earth tectonics and surficial processes (e.g., erosion and sedimentation) plays a significant role in shaping the Earth as well as its environment and climate effects. In summary, the research on the dynamics of convergent plate margins requires effective integrations of multiple geological, geophysical, and geochemical observations as well as the coupled thermodynamic and thermomechanical numerical models. They may jointly contribute to the ultimate solution of relevant unresolved scientific issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=189705669
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s11430-024-1513-5
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 29
        StartPage: 4033
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Plate tectonics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Subduction zones
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Subduction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Lithosphere
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Orogeny
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Earth movements
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Structural geology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: East Asia
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Himalaya Mountains
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Dynamics of convergent plate margins: Progress and challenge.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Li, Zhong-Hai
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wang, Yang
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Cui, Qihua
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Fu, Hui-Ying
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Cui, Fengyuan
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Huangfu, Pengpeng
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 16747313
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 68
            – Type: issue
              Value: 12
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences
              Type: main
ResultId 1