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Shahnas & Pysklywec 2004
Shahnas, M.H. and Pysklywec, R.N. (2004). Anomalous topography in the western Atlantic caused by edge-driven convection. Geophysical Research Letters 31: doi: 10.1029/2004GL020882. issn: 0094-8276.

The western Atlantic region contains a long-wavelength intraplate topography anomaly that is defined by the NE-SW trending Bermuda Rise and two adjacent topography lows. Using numerical experiments, we test the hypothesis that the anomalous topography may be the surface response to edge-driven convection. A primary edge-driven convection cell and secondary flow circulation develops at a modeled continent-ocean plate margin and induces subsidence at the continent-ocean margin, an off-shore peak/plateau of high topography on the ocean plate, and distal ocean plate subsidence. Unlike hot spots, the edge-driven convection cell and associated topography migrate with moving surface plates. The flow cell and wavelength of topography is broadened with continent-ward motion of the lithosphere relative to the mantle, whereas a migration in the ocean-ward direction suppresses the formation of the edge-driven convection cell and surface topography. The wavelength of observed anomalous topography in the western Atlantic and estimates of plate motions relative to a fixed hot spot reference frame are consistent with the former.

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Abstract

Keywords
Tectonophysics, Dynamics of lithosphere and mantle—general, Tectonophysics, Dynamics, convection currents and mantle plumes, Tectonophysics, Planetary tectonics, Tectonophysics, Plate boundary—general, Information Related to Geographic Region, Atlantic Ocean
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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