Evolution of cratons through the ages: A time-dependent study

Paul, J and Ghosh, A (2020) Evolution of cratons through the ages: A time-dependent study. In: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 531 .

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Abstract

The viscosity of cratons is key to understanding their long term survival. In this study, we present a time-dependent, full spherical, three dimensional mantle convection model to investigate the evolution of cratons of different viscosities. The models are initiated from 409 Ma and run forward in time till the present-day. We impose a surface velocity boundary condition, derived from plate tectonic reconstruction, to drive mantle convection in our models. Cratons of different viscosities evolve accordingly with the changing velocity field from their original locations. Along with the viscosity of cratons, the viscosity of the asthenosphere also plays an important role in cratons' long term survival. Our results predict that for the long-term survival of cratons they need to be at least 100 times more viscous than their surroundings and the asthenosphere needs to have a viscosity of the order of 1020 Pa-s or more.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Publisher:	Elsevier B.V.
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Elsevier B.V.
Keywords:	Numerical models; Velocity, cratons; Deep earths; Mantle convection; Mantle convection models; Surface velocity; Time dependent; Velocity field, Viscosity, asthenosphere; boundary condition; craton; mantle convection; numerical model; plate tectonics; reconstruction; viscosity
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Centre for Earth Sciences
Date Deposited:	22 Jan 2020 12:05
Last Modified:	22 Jan 2020 12:05
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/64355

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