The effects of the overriding plate thermal state on the slab dip in an ocean-continent subduction system

TL;DR

This study uses thermo-mechanical modeling to analyze how the thermal state and thickness of the overriding plate influence the slab dip in ocean-continent subduction zones, revealing key dependencies and correlations.

Contribution

It introduces a 2-D finite element model that quantifies the impact of overriding plate thermal state on slab geometry, challenging the assumed correlation with oceanic lithosphere age.

Findings

Slab dip decreases as the overriding plate thickness increases.

High variability in slab geometry occurs for oceanic lithosphere thicknesses of 60-80 km.

Model results align well with natural subduction zone data.

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of variations in the thermal state of the overriding plate on the slab dip in an ocean-continent subduction system, a 2-D finite element thermo-mechanical model was implemented. The lithosphere base was located at the depth of the 1600 K isotherm. Numerical simulations were performed while taking into account four different initial thicknesses for the oceanic lithosphere (60, 80, 95 and 110 km) and five different thicknesses of the overriding plate, as compared in terms of the continental-oceanic plate thickness ratio (100, 120, 140, 160 and 200% of the oceanic lithosphere thickness). The results of numerical modeling indicate that a high variability of the subducting plate geometry occurs for an oceanic lithosphere thickness ranging from 60 to 80 km, while the variability decreases where the oceanic plates are thicker (95 and 110 km). Furthermore, the slab dip strongly depends on the thermal state of the overriding plate, and, in particular, the slab dip decreases with the increase in the upper plate thickness. The model predictions also confirm that a direct correlation between the slab dip and the age of the oceanic lithosphere does not exist, at least for subduction plates thinner that 110 km. These conclusions are supported by the good agreement between the model results and the natural data referring to worldwide ocean-continent subduction zones.