We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Continued Convergence After the Occurrence of a Slab Break‐Off: The Case of the Cyprian Arc.
- Authors
Granot, R.; Hamiel, Y.; Kanari, M.; Kurant, S.; Katz, O.
- Abstract
The detachment (i.e., break‐off) of down‐going subducting oceanic slabs is a major geodynamic event with far‐reaching consequences, one of which is the reduction of the slab pull force acting on the trailing plate. We investigate the motion of the Sinai Microplate where a recent (∼1 Myr ago) slab break‐off occurred along its sole converging plate boundary (Cyprian Arc) with the overriding Anatolia Microplate. Based on new bathymetric mapping, high‐resolution seismic reflection imaging, geodetic and earthquake data, we show that Sinai is actively moving in a northwest direction with respect to Nubia. Our results indicate that despite the recent slab break‐off, Sinai has and is still being pulled (or pushed) toward the overriding Anatolia Microplate. The continued convergence possibly occurs because of a persistent slab pull force, a suction force induced by the down‐going detached slab and/or by the upper mantle flow induced by the Afar Plume. Plain Language Summary: Subduction of the oceanic lithosphere into the mantle exerts the prime force that drives plate tectonic motions. The termination of subduction due to the tearing of the down‐going oceanic slab is, therefore, an important geodynamic phenomenon with far‐reaching kinematic consequences. Here we show that despite the recent tearing of the leading oceanic slab of the Sinai Microplate, convergence motion between Sinai and Anatolia Microplates continued without substantial changes. The continued convergence possibly occurs because of a persistent slab pull force, a suction force induced by the down‐going detached slab and/or by the motion of the upper mantle flow induced by the Afar Plume. Key Points: Within the eastern Mediterranean, the Sinai Microplate is moving in a northwest direction with respect to the Nubian PlateThe Sinai Microplate is still converging with the overriding Anatolia Plate, despite the recent break‐off of the leading subducting slab
- Subjects
SINAI, Mount (Egypt); NUBIA; SLABS (Structural geology); SUBDUCTION; SUBDUCTION zones; LITHOSPHERE; BATHYMETRIC maps; IMAGING systems in seismology; PLATE tectonics
- Publication
Geophysical Research Letters, 2024, Vol 51, Issue 7, p1
- ISSN
0094-8276
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1029/2023GL108095