Oceanic lithosphere-asthenosphere decoupling is required for the functioning of plate tectonics  

大洋岩石圈-软流圈解耦是板块构造能够运行的关键

作　　者：Yaoling Niu 牛耀龄

机构地区：[1]Laoshan Laboratory,Qingdao 266237,China [2]China University of Geosciences,Beijing 100083,China [3]Institute of Oceanology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Qingdao 266071,China

出　　处：《Science Bulletin》2024年第20期3159-3162,共4页科学通报（英文版）

基　　金：supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(91958215);Shandong basic research office(WSR2023018);the Ministry of Education 111 Project(B18048)。

摘　　要：Evidence of seafloor spreading[1,2]proved the seafloor-spreading hypothesis[3]and led to the discovery of plate tectonics.A further observation-based analysis showed that seafloor-spreading results from downward pulling of the subducting slab[4],which drives plate tectonics and dictates the first order pattern of mantle convection[5](Fig.1a).Continental drift is understood as a passive response to trench retreat under gravity due to seafloor subduction[6].All this,plus the understanding that ocean ridges are passive features[7],has completed the paradigm of the plate tectonics theory.However,a fundamental issue concerning mantle flow subjacent to the spreading oceanic lithosphere remains widely misperceived(Fig.1b,c),which needs correction so as to better appreciate the efficacies of the plate tectonics theory and to correctly understand the origin and evolution of oceanic lithosphere as well as processes of chemical differentiation of the Earth.

关 键 词：TECTONICS MANTLE LITHOSPHERE 

分 类 号：P736[天文地球—海洋地质]