Skip to main content
Log in

The crust and upper mantle structure and the stretching mechanism of the Okinawa Trough

  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The major aim of this study is to put forwad a valid model to explain the gravity anomalies observed over the Okinawa Trough which the crustal structure and a reasonable model of the downgoing slab themselves cannot explain. The result of inversion indicates that the lithosphere above the center of the trough thins out to 45% of the normal thickness (63 km) of the lithosphere of the East China Sea.

Fur ther, the originations of lithospheric force are discussed. The tensional stress of about 160 bar arising from density contrast in the Okinawa Trough is recognized to be the most important causative factor in the stretching of the trough.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abe Katsuyuki, 1980. Upper mantle structure of the Philippine Sea.Oceanic Geological Research (N). pp. 263–267. (Chinese translation)

  2. Anderson, R.N., et al., 1976. Geochemical constrains at converging plate boundaries: I. Dehydration in the downgoing slab.Geophys. J. Roy. Astron. Soc. 44: 333–357.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Chen Shenzhao, 1983. The characteristics of the deep structure of the South China Sea and the environmental seas.Journal of Nanjing University (Nature Sciences) 3: 521–535.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Feng Rui, et al., 1981. Crustal structure in China from surface waves.Acta Seismologia Sinica 3(4) 335–350 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Grow, J.A., et al., 1975. Evidence for high-density crust and mantle beneath the Chile Trench due to the descending lithosphere.J.G.R. 80: 1449–1458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Herman, B. M., et al., 1979. Extensional structure in the Okinawa Trough.AAPG Mer. 29: 199–208.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Jin Xingchun, et al., 1984. The primary analysis of the crustal charactristics and the anomalous mantle of the Okinawa Trough.Marine Geology and Quaternary Geology 14(3): 17–25. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Krishna V.G. et al., 1984a. Upper mantle velocity structure in the Ryukyu and Taiwan-Luzon ares.J. Phy. Earth 32: 63–84.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Krishna, V.G., et al., 1984 b. Upper mantle velocity structure in the New Guinea and Solouon Islands Regions.J. Phys. Earth 32: 339–371.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kusznir, N.J. and Bott, M.H.P., 1977. Stress concentration in the upper lithosphere caused by underlying viscoelastic creep.Tectonophysics 43: 247–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Lee, C-S, 1980. Origin of a back-arc basin.Marine Geology 35: 219–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Lee Quanxin. 1982. The Origin of Okinawa Trough.Acta Oceanologica Sinica 4(3): 324–334.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Muranchi, S., et al., 1968. Crustal structure of the Philippine Sea.Journal of Geophysical Research 73(10): 3143–3171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Nafi Toksoz, M., et al., 1978. Numerical studies of back-are convertion and the formation of mariginal basins.Tectonophysics 50: 177–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Park, M.J.M., et al., 1983. Visco-elastic modeling of lithospheric stress arising from density contrasts. Geophys.J.K. Astr. Soc. 74: 905–914.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ringwood, A.E., 1977. Petrogenesis in Island Are Systems in Island Ares, Deep Sea Trenches, and Back-Are Basins. Maurice Ewing Ser. Vol. 1. edited by M. Talwani and W.C. Pitmann pp. 311–324.

  17. Sager, W.W., 1980. Marianas are structure inferred from gravity and seismic data.J.G.R. 25(B10): 5382–5388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Song Zhonghe, et al., 1986. P-wave velocity structure of the upper mantle on the mainland and the marginal seas of China.Acta Seismologica Sinica 8(3): 25–36.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Wageman, B.M., et al., 1970. Structure framework of East China Sea and Yellow Sea,Bull. Amer. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 54: 1611–1643.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Contribution No. 1487 from Institute of Oceanology. Academia Sinica

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yang, S. The crust and upper mantle structure and the stretching mechanism of the Okinawa Trough. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 6, 135–143 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02847833

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02847833

Keywords

Navigation