Mid Ocean Ridges Thermal Evolution Joel Pierson, Glynis Jehle
description
Transcript of Mid Ocean Ridges Thermal Evolution Joel Pierson, Glynis Jehle
Mid Ocean RidgesThermal Evolution
Joel Pierson, Glynis Jehle
Models for Ocean Plate Thermal Evolution
Half-Space Model• Cooling from the top by
conduction• Isostatic subsidence is
proportional to the square root of the sea floor age
• Plot of depth versus age1/2 is a straight line
• Half-space model significantly overestimates depth for ages >90 Ma
Plate Model• An attempt to better
represent older sea floor• Subsidence and heat flow
described using cooling conductive plate that has a constant temperature at the base
• Parameters for model: Lithosphere thickness and temperature at base (135 km thickness and 1330oC)
The relationship between depth, age and gravity in the oceans
Geophysical Journal InternationalVolume 166, Issue 2, pages 553-573, 5 JUL 2006 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2006.03015.xhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2006.03015.x/full#f1
Elevation/bathymetry
[Davis and Chapman, 2011]
Heat Flow
[Davis and Chapman, 2011]