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On the Relationship Between Oceanic Plate Speed, Tectonic Stress, and Seismic Anisotropy
E Kendall1,2, M Faccenda3, A M G Ferreira1,4
1Department of Earth Sciences University College London London UK.
Faster tectonic plates create deeper seismic radial anisotropy due to increased mantle flow and strain. This finding helps understand mantle dynamics and plate tectonics.
Area of Science:
- Geophysics
- Seismology
- Tectonophysics
Background:
- Seismic radial anisotropy reveals mantle flow and strain.
- Previous studies linked azimuthal anisotropy to plate speed, but radial anisotropy's control was unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the relationship between tectonic plate speed and seismic radial anisotropy.
- Determine how plate speed influences mantle flow, strain, and anisotropy depth.
Main Methods:
- Developed 2D ridge flow models.
- Incorporated mantle fabric calculations.
- Applied the SGLOBE-rani tomographic filter.
Main Results:
- Faster plates generate higher tectonic stresses and strain rates.
- Increased strain rates reduce dislocation creep viscosity, leading to deeper anisotropy.
- Observed stronger anisotropy beneath faster plates, correlating with 3D global models.
Conclusions:
- Plate speed is a primary control on radial anisotropy.
- Radial anisotropy increases with plate speed (2-8 cm/yr) in the upper mantle (10-60 Ma).
- Findings enhance understanding of mantle dynamics and plate-mantle interactions.
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