Speculations on the Consequences and Causes of Plate Motions

TLDR

Plate theory links sea‑floor spreading to earthquake mechanisms and island‑arc structure, and attributes surface motion to sinking lithosphere. The study applies plate theory to compute lithospheric temperature beneath island arcs and to assess mantle flow, stress, and a novel convection approach. Cold lithosphere input drives mantle convection and downward flow near island arcs, ceases when arcs consume continents, and can generate fold mountains and convection‑cell rearrangement. Observations show earthquakes occur only in colder mantle regions, mantle flow and stress heating sustain high heat‑flow anomalies behind arcs, and sinking lithosphere does not maintain plate motions.

Abstract

Plate theory has successfully related sea floor spreading to the focal mechanisms of earthquakes and the deep structure of island arcs. It is used here to calculate the temperature distribution in the lithosphere thrust beneath island arcs, and to determine the flow and the stress elsewhere in the mantle. Comparison with observations demonstrates that earthquakes are restricted to those regions of the mantle which are colder than a definite temperature. The flow and the stress heating in the mantle can maintain the high heat flow anomaly observed behind island arcs. Plate theory also suggests a new approach to the convection problem. The most obvious mechanism causing surface motion is the force on the plates due to the sinking lithosphere. This does not appear to be the way in which the motions are maintained. However, the input of large volumes of cold material can control convection and cause general downward movements in the mantle near island arcs. This input of cold lithosphere must cease when the island arc tries to consume a continent, since the light continental crust cannot sink through the denser mantle. Attempts to assimilate continental crust in this way can produce fold mountains, and also permit a rearrangement of convection cells.