Influence of the asthenosphere on earth dynamics and evolution

作者：L. M. Cathles, Willy Fjeldskar, A. Lenardic, Barbara Romanowicz, Johnny Seales, Mark A. Richards · 发表于：Scientific Reports · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1038/s41598-023-39973-y · 被引用次数：17 · 研究领域：Geological and Geochemical Analysis、High-pressure geophysics and materials、earthquake and tectonic studies

The existence of a thin, weak asthenospheric layer beneath Earth's lithospheric plates is consistent with existing geological and geophysical constraints, including Pleistocene glacio-isostatic adjustment, modeling of gravity anomalies, studies of seismic anisotropy, and post-seismic rebound. Mantle convection models suggest that a pronounced weak zone beneath the upper thermal boundary layer (lithosphere) may be essential to the plate tectonic style of convection found on Earth. The asthenosphere is likely related to partial melting and the presence of water in the sub-lithospheric mantle, further implying that the long-term evolution of the Earth may be controlled by thermal regulation and volatile recycling that maintain a geotherm that approaches the wet mantle solidus at asthenospheric depths.