Publication Status is "Submitted" Or "In Press:
LDEO Publication:
Publication Type:
Year of Publication:
2005
Journal Title:
New Journal of Physics
Journal Date:
Feb 1
Place Published:
Tertiary Title:
Volume:
7
Issue:
Pages:
-
Section / Start page:
Publisher:
ISBN Number:
1367-2630
ISSN Number:
Edition:
Short Title:
Accession Number:
ISI:000228316500002
LDEO Publication Number:
Call Number:
Key Words:
Abstract:
Rotating, growing microplates are observed in a wax analogue model of sea-floor spreading. Wax microplates are kinematically similar to sea-floor tectonic microplates in terms of spreading rate and growth rate. Furthermore, their spiral pseudofault geometry is quantitatively consistent with Schouten's oceanic microplate model. These results suggest that Schouten's edge-driven microplate model captures the kinematics of tectonic microplate evolution on Earth. Based on the wax observations, a theory for the nucleation of overlapping spreading centres, the precursors of tectonic microplates, is developed.
Notes:
915POTimes Cited:0Cited References Count:34
DOI:
Pii S1367-2630(05)89897-0