Subduction

Reflections on the geological and geodynamic evolution of the Southern Central Andes

Matías Barrionuevo and edited by Michaël Pons June 21, 2023

Sketch showing the flat slab configuration, where the Nazca plate subducts beneath the South American plate with a subhorizontal angle (modified from Sanchez et al., 2019)

Reflections on the geological and geodynamic evolution of the Southern Central Andes

Geodynamic data-driven modelling: bridging the gap between observations and numerical models

Constanza Rodriguez Piceda and edited by Michaël Pons April 26, 2023

Application of lubrication theory in understanding subduction interface dynamics

Giridas Maiti August 3, 2022

Figure 1. Analogy of a) subduction interface with b) engineering lubrication device (source: machinerylubrication.com).

Plate interface lubrication is essential for stabilization and continuation of subduction process for million of years. The magnitude of plate interface lubrication determines transfer of stress between two converging plates, topography of mountain belts, transportation of volatiles to the mantle, and return flow of high to ultra-high pressure rocks to the earth’s surface. In this week’s blog, I ...[Read More]

Orphaning: Discovering New Subduction Processes

Antoniette Greta Grima and edited by Kiran Chotalia November 24, 2021

Figure 1: P-Wave tomography by Obayashi et al. (2013) and Fukao & Obayashi (2013) for Tonga. Note the deflected slab at 660 km depth underlain by deeper slab material, possibly orphan slabs.

Science is all about discovering new things. But how do we make these discoveries, adding to the ever growing pantheon of knowledge? This week, we sit with one of our editors Antoniette Greta Grima, a Postdoctoral Fellow from the University of Texas at Austin, to understand what it takes to discover a new slab process. Thanks for sitting down with us this week! First things first, which subductio ...[Read More]