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Southward expanding plate coupling due to variation in sediment subduction as a cause of Andean growth

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  • Jiashun Hu

    (Southern University of Science and Technology
    California Institute of Technology
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Lijun Liu

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Michael Gurnis

    (California Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Growth of the Andes has been attributed to Cenozoic subduction. Although climatic and tectonic processes have been proposed to be first-order mechanisms, their interaction and respective contributions remain largely unclear. Here, we apply three-dimensional, fully-dynamic subduction models to investigate the effect of trench-axial sediment transport and subduction on Andean growth, a mechanism that involves both climatic and tectonic processes. We find that the thickness of trench-fill sediments, a proxy of plate coupling (with less sediments causing stronger coupling), exerts an important influence on the pattern of crustal shortening along the Andes. The southward migrating Juan Fernandez Ridge acts as a barrier to the northward flowing trench sediments, thus expanding the zone of plate coupling southward through time. Consequently, the predicted history of Andean shortening is consistent with observations. Southward expanding crustal shortening matches the kinematic history of inferred compression. These results demonstrate the importance of climate-tectonic interaction on mountain building.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiashun Hu & Lijun Liu & Michael Gurnis, 2021. "Southward expanding plate coupling due to variation in sediment subduction as a cause of Andean growth," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-27518-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27518-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yi-Wei Chen & Jonny Wu & John Suppe, 2019. "Southward propagation of Nazca subduction along the Andes," Nature, Nature, vol. 565(7740), pages 441-447, January.
    2. Simon Lamb & Paul Davis, 2003. "Cenozoic climate change as a possible cause for the rise of the Andes," Nature, Nature, vol. 425(6960), pages 792-797, October.
    3. F. A. Capitanio & C. Faccenna & S. Zlotnik & D. R. Stegman, 2011. "Subduction dynamics and the origin of Andean orogeny and the Bolivian orocline," Nature, Nature, vol. 480(7375), pages 83-86, December.
    4. Stuart N. Thomson & Mark T. Brandon & Jonathan H. Tomkin & Peter W. Reiners & Cristián Vásquez & Nathaniel J. Wilson, 2010. "Glaciation as a destructive and constructive control on mountain building," Nature, Nature, vol. 467(7313), pages 313-317, September.
    5. W. P. Schellart & J. Freeman & D. R. Stegman & L. Moresi & D. May, 2007. "Evolution and diversity of subduction zones controlled by slab width," Nature, Nature, vol. 446(7133), pages 308-311, March.
    6. W. P. Schellart, 2017. "Andean mountain building and magmatic arc migration driven by subduction-induced whole mantle flow," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yanchong Li & Lijun Liu & Sanzhong Li & Diandian Peng & Zebin Cao & Xinyu Li, 2024. "Cenozoic India-Asia collision driven by mantle dragging the cratonic root," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Xiaoyue Wu & Jiashun Hu & Ling Chen & Liang Liu & Lijun Liu, 2023. "Paleogene India-Eurasia collision constrained by observed plate rotation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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