摘要
The boundary between lithosphere and asthenosphere essentially represents a thermal boundary (the solidus). Temperature variation across this boundary can lead to the change of lithosphere thickness. In the case of elevated temperatures in a lithospheric layer above 1 200℃, partial melting will begin and the result of that is a thinned lithosphere. The other mechanism that can also thin lithosphere is extension. Stretching during an extension event can result in a thinner and longer lithosphere. The two mechanisms above are the reason why we can alserve large variations in lithosphere thickness spatially across various continents and temporally throughout the geological history.
The boundary between lithosphere and asthenosphere essentially represents a thermal boundary (the solidus). Temperature variation across this boundary can lead to the change of lithosphere thickness. In the case of elevated temperatures in a lithospheric layer above 1 200℃, partial melting will begin and the result of that is a thinned lithosphere. The other mechanism that can also thin lithosphere is extension. Stretching during an extension event can result in a thinner and longer lithosphere. The two mechanisms above are the reason why we can alserve large variations in lithosphere thickness spatially across various continents and temporally throughout the geological history.
作者
ZHANG Yan hua 1,2 , LIN Ge 2, WANG Yue jun 2 and FAN Wei ming 2 (1. CSIRO Exploration & Mining, P.O. Box 437, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
2. Changsha Institute of Geotectonics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410013, China)
基金
the CAS/CSIRO exchange program
