地幔楔mantle wedge),是大洋板块在海沟(板块汇聚边界)处向地幔俯冲时与上盘的大陆板块(非潜没板块)之间夹杂的三角楔形的地幔舌部。可用地震波速成像来辨识。[1]

洋壳俯冲的图示。

俯冲的洋壳携带了大量挥发性水分(水合矿物的分解与渗透的海水),水分的上升将降低其上的地幔楔的熔化温度。[2][3][4] 地幔楔的流动导致的减压也有助于其熔化。熔融的地幔楔上升形成了火山活动。[5]


弧前地幔扩展至俯冲带与地幔楔较冷的鼻部相遇之处,深度约为10–40 km.[1]俯冲带之处的地震波衰减低,波速快。[6]地幔楔区域的地震波断层成像显示为低速高衰减区域,Vp= 7.4 km·s−1 ,Vs= 4 km·s−1.[1] 没有火山弧的地幔楔就没有这种低速。这反映了地幔楔是否熔融。


参考文献

  1. ^ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Weins, A. D.; Conder, A. J.; Faul H. U. The seismic structure and dynamics of the mantle wedge. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 2008,. 10.1146. 
  2. ^ Kelley, K.; Plank, T.; Newman, S.; Stolper, E.; Grove, T.; Parman, S.; Hauri, E. Mantle melting as a function of water content beneath the Mariana arc. Journal of Petrology. 2010, 51 (8): 1711–1738. doi:10.1093/petrology/egq036. 
  3. ^ Van Keken, Peter E. The structure and dynamics of the mantle wedge (PDF). Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 2003, 215 (3–4): 323–338 [2016-08-20]. Bibcode:2003E&PSL.215..323V. doi:10.1016/S0012-821X(03)00460-6. (原始内容 (PDF)存档于2011-07-21). 
  4. ^ Kimura, J.; Yoshida, T. Contributions of slab fluid, mantle wedge and crust to the origin of quaternary lavas in the NE Japan arc. Journal of petrology. 2006, 47 (11): 2185–2232. doi:10.1093/petrology/egl041. 
  5. ^ Hirshmann, M. M. Ironing out the oxidation of earth's mantle. Science Magazine. 2012,. 10.1126. 
  6. ^ Stachnik, J. C.; Abers, A. G. Seismic attenuation and mantle wedge temperatures in the Alaska subduction zone. Journal of geophysical research. 2004, 10 (B10304).