Articles | Volume 8, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-8-339-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-8-339-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
The subduction dichotomy of strong plates and weak slabs
Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics,
University of California, San Diego,
9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093-0225, USA
Dave R. Stegman
Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics,
University of California, San Diego,
9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093-0225, USA
Paul J. Tackley
Institute für Geophysik,
ETH Zürich,
Sonneggstrasse 5,
8092 Zürich, Switzerland
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Cited
15 citations as recorded by crossref.
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- Regional‐Scale Lithospheric Recycling on Venus Via Peel‐Back Delamination A. Adams et al. 10.1029/2022JE007460
- Flat subduction in the Early Earth: The key role of discrete eclogitization kinetics A. Perchuk et al. 10.1016/j.gr.2023.03.015
- Felsic magmatism during Precambrian flat subduction A. Perchuk et al. 10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102133
- Numerical modeling of subduction: State of the art and future directions T. Gerya 10.1130/GES02416.1
- Sustained indentation in 2-D models of continental collision involving whole mantle subduction A. Laik et al. 10.1093/gji/ggac339
- Subduction Styles at Different Stages of Geological History of the Earth: Results of Numerical Petrological–Thermomechanical 2D Modeling V. Zakharov et al. 10.1134/S0016852124700298
- Subduction Style at Different Stages of Geological History of the Earth: Results of Numerical Petrological-Thermomechanical 2D Modeling V. Zakharov et al. 10.31857/S0016853X24040018
- Depletion of the upper mantle by convergent tectonics in the Early Earth A. Perchuk et al. 10.1038/s41598-021-00837-y
- Geodynamic diagnostics, scientific visualisation and StagLab 3.0 F. Crameri 10.5194/gmd-11-2541-2018
- Shallow vs. Deep subduction in Earth history: Contrasting regimes of water recycling into the mantle A. Perchuk et al. 10.1016/j.precamres.2025.107690
- The adsorption behavior of H2O in forsterite pore under high pressure and high temperature by Monte Carlo simulation L. Yang et al. 10.1016/j.pepi.2025.107413
- Dynamic slab segmentation due to brittle–ductile damage in the outer rise T. Gerya et al. 10.1038/s41586-021-03937-x
- The dynamical control of subduction parameters on surface topography F. Crameri et al. 10.1002/2017GC006821
13 citations as recorded by crossref.
- The effect of low-viscosity sediments on the dynamics and accretionary style of subduction margins A. Pusok et al. 10.5194/se-13-1455-2022
- 101 geodynamic modelling: how to design, interpret, and communicate numerical studies of the solid Earth I. van Zelst et al. 10.5194/se-13-583-2022
- Regional‐Scale Lithospheric Recycling on Venus Via Peel‐Back Delamination A. Adams et al. 10.1029/2022JE007460
- Flat subduction in the Early Earth: The key role of discrete eclogitization kinetics A. Perchuk et al. 10.1016/j.gr.2023.03.015
- Felsic magmatism during Precambrian flat subduction A. Perchuk et al. 10.1016/j.gsf.2025.102133
- Numerical modeling of subduction: State of the art and future directions T. Gerya 10.1130/GES02416.1
- Sustained indentation in 2-D models of continental collision involving whole mantle subduction A. Laik et al. 10.1093/gji/ggac339
- Subduction Styles at Different Stages of Geological History of the Earth: Results of Numerical Petrological–Thermomechanical 2D Modeling V. Zakharov et al. 10.1134/S0016852124700298
- Subduction Style at Different Stages of Geological History of the Earth: Results of Numerical Petrological-Thermomechanical 2D Modeling V. Zakharov et al. 10.31857/S0016853X24040018
- Depletion of the upper mantle by convergent tectonics in the Early Earth A. Perchuk et al. 10.1038/s41598-021-00837-y
- Geodynamic diagnostics, scientific visualisation and StagLab 3.0 F. Crameri 10.5194/gmd-11-2541-2018
- Shallow vs. Deep subduction in Earth history: Contrasting regimes of water recycling into the mantle A. Perchuk et al. 10.1016/j.precamres.2025.107690
- The adsorption behavior of H2O in forsterite pore under high pressure and high temperature by Monte Carlo simulation L. Yang et al. 10.1016/j.pepi.2025.107413
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Latest update: 31 Aug 2025
Short summary
In this study we propose a dichotomy in the strength profile of tectonic plates. This apparent dichotomy suggests that plates at the Earth's surface are significantly stronger, by orders of magnitude, than the subducted slabs in the Earth's interior. Strong plates promote single-sided, Earth-like subduction. Once subducted, strong slabs transmit dynamic stresses and disrupt subduction. Slabs which are weakened do not disrupt subduction and furthermore exhibit a variety of observed morphologies.
In this study we propose a dichotomy in the strength profile of tectonic plates. This apparent...