New model of a fundamental process behind the movement of Earth's tectonic plates

The University of Lisbon.

An advanced numerical model of one of the main processes behind the movement of Earth's tectonic plates has been developed by a research team from University of Lisbon and Johannes Gutenberg University.

On average, the plates that make up the Earth's surface move around 10 centimeters a year. The so-called subduction zones are central to the dynamics of the planet and are on one plate. Over thousands of years, large mountain ranges or marine trenches can be formed in these regions because of the slow movement.

How do these subduction zones evolve over time? The process can be stagnant and reverse itself in these zones, giving rise to new subduction zones. To include in the models the various forces involved in this process was still necessary. For the first time, it was possible to model one of the most common processes of formation of new subduction zones in three dimensions.

Subduction zones are one of the main features of our planet and the main driver of plate tectonics. The Pacific Ring of Fire, the largest system of subduction zones in the world, is also where earthquakes of great magnitude occur. "For this reason, it is extremely important to understand how new subduction zones start and how this process takes place", says the first author of the study, researcher at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon.

The simulations that led to these results took up to a week to process on a supercomputer. Had it not been for the recent development of the computational code at this University, it could have taken weeks or even months to run.

It had been suggested that new subduction zones were more likely to form from existing ones. It seems to be easier and more likely than anticipated, according to the researcher who co-authored the study.

This model opens up a new range of perspectives and represents the starting point for studying specific regions of our planet, such as the subduction zones that are starting in the Atlantic Ocean, in the Caribbean, the Scotia Arc. The 1755 Lisbon earthquake may have been the beginning of the beginning of subduction on our margin, and there are marine data that support it.

More information: Jaime Almeida et al, Self-replicating subduction zone initiation by polarity reversal, Communications Earth & Environment (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-022-00380-2 Journal information: Communications Earth & Environment Provided by University of Lisbon Citation: New model of a fundamental process behind the movement of Earth's tectonic plates (2022, March 11) retrieved 11 March 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-03-fundamental-movement-earth-tectonic-plates.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.