Abstract
Oceanic trenches are prominent features of the Earth's surface. They represent the convergent plate boundaries and generally possess convex curvatures towards the subducting plates. Based on this observation, many static geometric models have been proposed for the origin of trench curvatures1–6. Unfortunately, many of these models have limited applicability7. Alternatively, a dynamic model has been proposed which suggests that trench curvatures are evolved from collisions between aseismic ridges and the trench axis8. We have developed a flow model to quantitatively evaluate this dynamic process for the Mariana Trench system. The model is able to yield an excellent fit to the present trench curvature and determine past rotations for back-arc volcanic islands such as Saipan and Guam with surprising accuracy when compared with palaeomagnetic observations.
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Hsui, A., Youngquist, S. A dynamic model of the curvature of the Mariana Trench. Nature 318, 455–457 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/318455a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/318455a0
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