Journal article
Surface motions and intraplate continental deformation in Alaska driven by mantle flow
Geophysical Research Letters, Vol.42(11), pp.4350-4358
2015
DOI: 10.1002/2015GL063987
Abstract
The degree to which the lithosphere and mantle are coupled and contribute to surface deformation beneath continental regions remains a fundamental question in the field of geodynamics. Here we use a new approach with a surface deformation field constrained by GPS, geologic, and seismicity data, together with a lithospheric geodynamic model, to solve for tractions inferred to be generated by mantle convection that (1) drive extension within interior Alaska generating southward directed surface motions toward the southern convergent plate boundary, (2) result in accommodation of the relative motions between the Pacific and North America in a comparatively small zone near the plate boundary, and (3) generate the observed convergence within the North American plate interior in the Mackenzie mountains in northwestern Canada. The evidence for deeper mantle influence on surface deformation beneath a continental region suggests that this mechanism may be an important contributing driver to continental plate assemblage and breakup.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Surface motions and intraplate continental deformation in Alaska driven by mantle flow
- Creators
- Emily S. Finzel - University of IowaLucy M. Flesch - Purdue University West LafayetteKenneth D. Ridgway - Purdue University West LafayetteWilliam E. Holt - Stony Brook UniversityAttreyee Ghosh - Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol.42(11), pp.4350-4358
- DOI
- 10.1002/2015GL063987
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100006770, name: Petroleum Research Fund; name: National Science Foundation
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2015
- Academic Unit
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984230125202771
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