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Extension during continental convergence, with application to the Tibetan PlateauAn explanation in terms of the thermal evolution of thickened continental lithosphere is offered to explain the transition, in the late Tertiary to Quaternary, from north-south compression to east-west extension in the strain rate field of the Tibetan Plateau. The lower part of the lithosphere consists of a thermal boundary layer which, when thickened by horizontal shortening, is colder and denser than its surroundings. Convective instability of the thickened thermal boundary layer and its replacement by hot asthenosphere would rapidly raise the surface elevation and gravitational potential energy of the overlying part of the lithosphere. The convective instability would happen in a time brief compared with the collision time scale but would only occur after there had already been substantial thickening of the lithosphere. The increase in surface height and of potential energy are sufficient for east-west extension to replace north-south compression as the dominant feature of the stress field.
Document ID
19900033512
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
England, Philip
(Oxford, University United Kingdom)
Houseman, Gregory
(Australian National University Canberra, Australia)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
December 10, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 94
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
90A20567
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-27229
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF EAR-84-08352
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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