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Piromallo et al. 2006
Piromallo, C., Becker, T.W., Funiciello, F. and Faccenna, C. (2006). Three-dimensional instantaneous mantle flow induced by subduction. Geophysical Research Letters 33: doi: 10.1029/2005GL025390. issn: 0094-8276.

We conduct three-dimensional subduction experiments by a finite element approach to study flow around slabs, which are prescribed based on a transient stage of upper mantle subduction from a laboratory model. Instantaneous velocity field solutions are examined, focusing on the toroidal vs. poloidal components as a function of boundary conditions, plate width, and viscosity contrast between slab and mantle. We show how the slab-to-mantle viscosity ratio determines the strength of toroidal flow, and find that the toroidal flow component peaks for slab/mantle viscosity ratios ~100, independent of slab width or geometry.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Oceanography, General, Numerical modeling (0545, 0560), Seismology, Mantle (1212, 1213, 8124), Tectonophysics, Dynamics of lithosphere and mantle, general, Tectonophysics, Subduction zone processes (1031, 3060, 3613, 8413)
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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