Hot and cold subduction systems in the Western Pacific Ocean: insights from heat flows. (30th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kong, X. C.; Li, S. Z.; Suo, Y. H.; Guo, L. L.; Li, X. Y.; Liu, X.; Somerville, I. D.; Dai, L. M.; Zhao, S. J.
• Other Names: Li S. guestEditor.; Li G. guestEditor.; Liu X. guestEditor.; Somerville I. D. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Geological journal. Volume 51(2016)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 593
• Page End: 608
• Publication Date: 2016-05-30
• Subjects: Western Pacific -- heat flow -- inverse distance weighted -- hot and cold subduction -- dehydration -- decarbonation -- earthquake; Geology -- Periodicals; 551
• DOI: 10.1002/gj.2802
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0072-1050

Abstract

Abstract: We calculate a predicted interpolating result of surface heat flow based on a data set with 2674 measurements in the Western Pacific. Comparisons of heat flow profiles between the back‐arc basin and the corresponding subduction slab show that the cold subducting slab may cause indirectly the thermal activities of back‐arc basins. We estimate that values of <50 mW/m 2 for both the Philippine Sea Plate and the Pacific Plate may respectively cause the thermal activity of the Okinawa Trough and the Kuril Basin. Moreover, cold subduction may release carbonatitic liquid at different depths, and the process of releasing liquid ends up with the maximum range of serpentinization. The hot subduction system has released most of the water before being incorporated into the mantle wedge; therefore, at great depths, the amount of carbon may dominate the subducting process by controlling partial melting. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.