The Thermoconvective Three-Dimensional Spherical Model of Modern Earth Geodynamics: Application to Tectonics and Regional Geology

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Abstract

The article presents a thermoconvective three-dimensional spherical model of the modern geodynamics of the Earth, created by the authors, based on the global seismic tomography model SMEAN2 with plate rheology on the surface. The fundamental result is that the numerical three-dimensional model of flows in the spherical mantle layer leads to an image of horizontal movements of lithospheric plates on the Earth’s surface that agrees with the modern kinematic model of plate tectonics, as well as with satellite observations of horizontal displacements on the Earth’ surface. This agreement allows us to reasonably assert that the presented three-dimensional model of modern material flows for a spherical Earth is a generalization of the concept of plate tectonics, which has been developing for half a century within the framework of kinematic theory using mainly two-dimensional convective models of mantle flows, which can describe only regional processes. We consider the application of the model to explain some features of regional tectonics.

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About the authors

L. I. Lobkovsky

Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: baranov@ifz.ru
Russian Federation, 36, Nakhimovsky Ave., Moscow, 117218

A. A. Baranov

Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: baranov@ifz.ru
Russian Federation, 10, B. Gruzinskaya St., Moscow, 123995

A. M. Bobrov

Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: baranov@ifz.ru
Russian Federation, 10, B. Gruzinskaya St., Moscow, 123995

A. V. Chuvaev

Russian Technological University

Email: baranov@ifz.ru
Russian Federation, 78, Vernadsky Ave., Moscow, 119454

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Supplementary files

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2. Appendix

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3. Fig. 1. Depth distribution of the total temperature and viscosity logarithm in the mantle. (a) - Total temperature; (b) - logarithm of viscosity.

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4. Fig. 2. Distribution of temperature anomalies in the mantle at a depth of 100 km (the model was built using CitcomS software [50]). Shown: contour of the continents (line in black); calculated velocities at the Earth's surface (arrows in black).

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5. Fig. 3. Cross section at 300 km depth (the model was built using CitcomS software [50]). Shown: contour of continents (line in black); calculated velocities at 300 km depth (arrows in black). The cross-section of the Earth at: 20° and 200°E (frame in red); 40° and 220°E (frame in blue); 110° and 290°E (frame in blue); 160° and 340°E (frame in pink).

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6. Fig. 4. Cross section at a depth of 660 km (the model was built using CitcomS software [50]). Shown: contour of the continents (line in black); calculated velocities at a depth of 300 km (arrows in black). The cross-section of the Earth at: 20° and 200°E (frame in red); 40° and 220°E (frame in blue); 110° and 290°E (frame in blue); 160° and 340°E (frame in pink).

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7. Figure 5. Cross section at a depth of 2850 km (the model was built using CitcomS software [50]). Shown: contour of the continents (line in black); calculated velocities at a depth of 300 km (arrows in black). Marked: cross section of the Earth at 20° and 200°E (frame in red); 40° and 220°E (frame in blue); 110° and 290°E (frame in blue); 160° and 340°E (frame in pink).

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8. Fig. 6. Distribution of temperature anomalies and flow velocity anomalies in the Earth's mantle in a cross section at 20° and 200°E (the model was built using CitcomS software [50]). Marked: the boundary between the upper and lower mantle at a depth of 660 km (circle in black).

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9. Fig. 7. Distribution of temperature and velocity anomalies in the Earth's mantle at 40° and 220°E (the model was built using CitcomS software [50]). Denoted: the boundary between the upper and lower mantle at a depth of 660 km (circle in black).

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10. Fig. 8. Distribution of temperature anomalies and flow velocity anomalies in the Earth's mantle in a cross section at 110° and 290°E (the model was built using CitcomS software [50]). Marked: the boundary between the upper and lower mantle at a depth of 660 km (circle in black).

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11. Fig. 9. Distribution of temperature anomalies and flow velocity anomalies in the Earth's mantle in a cross section at 160°E and 340°E (the model was built using CitcomS software [50]). Marked: the boundary between the upper and lower mantle at a depth of 660 km (circle in black).

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