On the role of heat flow, lithosphere thickness and lithosphere density on gravitational potential stresses

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: On the role of heat flow, lithosphere thickness and lithosphere density on gravitational potential stresses
Authors: Pascal, Christophe1 christophe.pascal@ngu.no
Source: Tectonophysics. Oct2006, Issue 1-4, p83-99. 17p.
Subjects: Inner planets, Equations, Shape of the earth, Geodesy
Abstract: Abstract: Gravitational potential stresses (GPSt) are known to play a first-order role in the state of stress of the Earth''s lithosphere. Previous studies focussed mainly on crust elevation and structure and little attention has been paid to modelling GPSt using realistic lithospheric structures. The aim of the present contribution is to quantify gravitational potential energies and stresses associated with stable lithospheric domains. In order to model realistic lithosphere structures, a wide variety of data are considered: surface heat flow, chemical depletion of mantle lithosphere, crustal thickness and elevation. A numerical method is presented which involves classical steady-state heat equations to derive lithosphere thickness, geotherm and density distribution, but additionally requires the studied lithosphere to be isostatically compensated at its base. The impact of varying surface and crustal heat flow, topography, Moho depth and crust density on the signs and magnitudes of predicted GPSt is systematically explored. In clear contrast with what is assumed in most previous studies, modelling results show that the density structure of the mantle lithosphere has a significant impact on the value of the predicted GPSt, in particular in the case of thick lithospheres. Using independent information from the literature, the method was applied to get insights in the state of stress of continental domains with contrasting tectono-thermal ages. The modelling results suggest that in the absence of tectonic stresses Phanerozoic and Proterozoic lithospheres are spontaneously submitted to compression whereas Archean lithospheres are in a neutral to slightly tensile stress state. These findings are in general in good agreement with global stress measurements and observed geoid undulations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
Copyright of Tectonophysics is the property of Elsevier B.V. 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 Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 22472260
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: On the role of heat flow, lithosphere thickness and lithosphere density on gravitational potential stresses
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pascal%2C+Christophe%22">Pascal, Christophe</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> christophe.pascal@ngu.no</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Tectonophysics%22">Tectonophysics</searchLink>. Oct2006, Issue 1-4, p83-99. 17p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Inner+planets%22">Inner planets</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Equations%22">Equations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Shape+of+the+earth%22">Shape of the earth</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geodesy%22">Geodesy</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Abstract: Gravitational potential stresses (GPSt) are known to play a first-order role in the state of stress of the Earth''s lithosphere. Previous studies focussed mainly on crust elevation and structure and little attention has been paid to modelling GPSt using realistic lithospheric structures. The aim of the present contribution is to quantify gravitational potential energies and stresses associated with stable lithospheric domains. In order to model realistic lithosphere structures, a wide variety of data are considered: surface heat flow, chemical depletion of mantle lithosphere, crustal thickness and elevation. A numerical method is presented which involves classical steady-state heat equations to derive lithosphere thickness, geotherm and density distribution, but additionally requires the studied lithosphere to be isostatically compensated at its base. The impact of varying surface and crustal heat flow, topography, Moho depth and crust density on the signs and magnitudes of predicted GPSt is systematically explored. In clear contrast with what is assumed in most previous studies, modelling results show that the density structure of the mantle lithosphere has a significant impact on the value of the predicted GPSt, in particular in the case of thick lithospheres. Using independent information from the literature, the method was applied to get insights in the state of stress of continental domains with contrasting tectono-thermal ages. The modelling results suggest that in the absence of tectonic stresses Phanerozoic and Proterozoic lithospheres are spontaneously submitted to compression whereas Archean lithospheres are in a neutral to slightly tensile stress state. These findings are in general in good agreement with global stress measurements and observed geoid undulations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Tectonophysics is the property of Elsevier B.V. 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=22472260
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.tecto.2006.07.012
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 17
        StartPage: 83
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Inner planets
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Equations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Shape of the earth
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Geodesy
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: On the role of heat flow, lithosphere thickness and lithosphere density on gravitational potential stresses
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Pascal, Christophe
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 13
              M: 10
              Text: Oct2006
              Type: published
              Y: 2006
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 00401951
          Numbering:
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1-4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Tectonophysics
              Type: main
ResultId 1