Control of regional sea level by surface uplift and subsidence caused by magmatic underplating of Earth's crust

Abstract

Research Article| August 01, 2002 Control of regional sea level by surface uplift and subsidence caused by magmatic underplating of Earth's crust John Maclennan; John Maclennan 1Laboratoire de Géosciences Marines, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Bryan Lovell Bryan Lovell 2Bullard Laboratories, Department of Earth Sciences, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0EZ, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2002) 30 (8): 675–678. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0675:CORSLB>2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 12 Dec 2001 rev-recd: 02 Apr 2002 accepted: 12 Apr 2002 first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation John Maclennan, Bryan Lovell; Control of regional sea level by surface uplift and subsidence caused by magmatic underplating of Earth's crust. Geology 2002;; 30 (8): 675–678. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0675:CORSLB>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Magmatic underplating of the crust is a common feature of major basalt provinces. The emplacement of magma within the lithosphere leads to surface uplift, with a magnitude of the order of 10% of the thickness of the underplated material. The composition of associated igneous rock samples suggests that much of the underplated material is made of gabbro. This gabbro is denser than the magma from which it crystallizes, so uplift of Earth's surface caused by the emplacement of magma at the crust-mantle boundary must be followed by subsidence as the magma solidifies. This subsidence is equal to approximately half the original uplift and takes place within ∼0.1 m.y. of injection of the magma. The association of magmatic underplating with surface uplift followed by subsidence provides a mechanism for changes of sea level, including previously unexplained episodic highstands of sea level. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.