P8: The Lithospheric transfer function
Project leader
Berta Vilacís
Supervisors
Prof. Hans-Peter Bunge, Prof. Roland Pail
Advisors (int.)
Dr. Ingo Stotz (LMU)
Advisors (ext.)
Prof. Dr. van der Meijde (Univ. Twente)
Description
A significant component of topography globally is supported by lithospheric isostasy. The goal of this work package is to determine the best possible isostasy model for the contemporary state of the lithosphere by taking advantage of geodetic (P1, P2), geologic (P3, P4) and geophysical (P5) observables. This will include the use of gravity and gravity gradient data sets from modern satellite missions to constrain lithospheric architectures and will involve studies of the impact of uncertainties of gravity models on crustal thickness estimates. The separation problem of dynamic topography and topography in isostatic support will be helped further by exploiting the transient nature of dynamic topography and turning to geologic archives (P4) in order to deliver proxy records of continent-scale mantle-induced vertical motion of the lithosphere.
Main objectives
- Transfer function between results of the geodynamic model and the landscape evolution model
RTG coupling
Input:
- Spatially coherent model of paleotopography as a function of time from P7.
- P1, P2 and P5 provide contemporary uplift rates, gravity signals, and mantle density anomalies.
- Geologic uplift rates from P3, P4
Output:
- Coupling of the geodynamic model (P6) and the landscape evolution model (P7)
- Contemporary and transient uncertainty estimates (in connection with P9)
- Results of P8 will be visualized in P10
Preliminary results
I analyse the stratigraphic record at continental scale to track dynamic topography and its changes over time. I map the presence or absence of sedimentary rocks during a given time window as a proxy for subsidence or uplift. The result is the hiatus maps, eight time windows separated in geological series since 163 Myrs, that are a proxy for dynamic topography. Each map shows the presence of a geological series in blue as a proxy for subsidence and the absence of it in red is a proxy for uplift.
My results show that the wavelengths of dynamic topography are significantly smaller than previously thought, suggesting a strong influence of the radial viscosity stratification on convection patterns. They also highlight the strong interaction between tectonic plates and the highly vigorous flow underneath in the asthenosphere.
Publications:
B. Vilacís, H. Brown, H.-P. Bunge, S. Carena, J. N. Hayek, I. L. Stotz, R. Z. Wang, and A. M. Friedrich, “Dynamic topography and the planform of mantle convection since the Jurassic inferred from Global Continental Hiatus Maps,” Proc. Math. Phys. Eng. Sci., 2024 In Press
I. L. Stotz, S. Carena, B. Vilacís, J. N. Hayek, and H.-P. Bunge, “Kerguelen plume drives the Eocene directional change in Australia plate motion,” Lithosphere, 2024. In press
H.-P. Bunge, A. Horbach, L. Colli, S. Ghelichkhan, B. Vilacís, and J. N. Hayek, “Geodynamic data assimilation: Techniques and observables to construct and constrain time-dependent Earth models,” in Applications of Data Assimilation and Inverse Problems in the Earth Sciences (A. Ismail-Zadeh, F. Castelli, D. Jones, and S. Sanchez, eds.), Special Publications of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, p. 311–325, Cambridge University Press, 2023
Z. R. Wang, I. L. Stotz, H.-P. Bunge, B. Vilacís, J. N. Hayek, S. Ghelichkhan, and S. Lebedev, “Cenozoic upper mantle flow history of the Atlantic realm based on Couette/Poiseuillemodels: Towards paleo-mantle-flowgraphy,” Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, vol. 340, p. 107045, 2023
I. L. Stotz, B. Vilacís, J. N. Hayek, S. Carena, and H.-P. Bunge, “Plume driven plate motion changes: New insights from the South Atlantic realm,” Journal of South American Earth Sciences, vol. 124, p. 104257, 2023
B. Vilacís, J. N. Hayek, I. L. Stotz, H.-P. Bunge, A. M. Friedrich, S. Carena, and S. R. Clark, “Evidence for active upper mantle flow in the Atlantic and Indo-Australian realms since the Upper Jurassic from hiatus maps and spreading rate changes,” Proc. Math. Phys. Eng. Sci., vol. 478, no. 2262, p. 20210764, 2022
I. L. Stotz, B. Vilacís, J. N. Hayek, H.-P. Bunge, and A. M. Friedrich, “Yellowstone plume drives Neogene North American plate motion change,” Geophys. Res. Lett., vol. 48, no. 18, p. e2021GL095079, 2021
J. N. Hayek, B. Vilacís, H.-P. Bunge, A. M. Friedrich, S. Carena, and Y. Vibe, “Correction: Continent-scale Hiatus Maps for the Atlantic Realm and Australia since the Upper Jurassic and links to mantle flow induced dynamic topography,” Proc. Math. Phys. Eng. Sci., vol. 476, p. 20200390, 2021
J. N. Hayek, B. Vilacís, H.-P. Bunge, A. M. Friedrich, S. Carena, and Y. Vibe, “Continent-scale Hiatus Maps for the Atlantic Realm and Australia since the Upper Jurassic and links to mantle flow induced dynamic topography,” Proc. Math. Phys. Eng. Sci., vol. 476, no. 2242, p. 20200390, 2020
Conference contributions
- 24th DRT Barcelona 2024
- EGU24
- AGU23
- EGU24
- AHPGG Toledo 2022
- SEDI22
- EGU22
- GeoKarlsruhe2021
- Goldschmidt 2021
- EGU2020.