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Western US intraplate deformation controlled by the complex lithospheric structure

Author

Listed:
  • Zebin Cao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Lijun Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Abstract

The western United States is one of Earth’s most tectonically active regions, characterized by extensive crustal deformation through intraplate earthquakes and geodetic motion. Such intracontinental deformation is usually ascribed to plate boundary forces, lithospheric body forces, and/or viscous drag from mantle flow. However, their relative importance in driving crustal deformation remains controversial due to inconsistent assumptions on crustal and mantle structures in prior estimations. Here, we utilize a fully dynamic three-dimensional modeling framework with data assimilation to simultaneously compute lithospheric and convective mantle dynamics within the western United States. This approach allows for quantitative estimations of crustal deformation while accounting for the realistic three-dimensional lithospheric structure. Our results show the critical role of the complex lithospheric structure in governing intraplate deformation. Particularly, the interaction between the asthenospheric flow and lithospheric thickness step along the eastern boundary of the Basin and Range represents a key driving mechanism for localized crustal deformation and seismicity.

Suggested Citation

  • Zebin Cao & Lijun Liu, 2024. "Western US intraplate deformation controlled by the complex lithospheric structure," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48223-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48223-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thorsten W. Becker & Anthony R. Lowry & Claudio Faccenna & Brandon Schmandt & Adrian Borsa & Chunquan Yu, 2015. "Western US intermountain seismicity caused by changes in upper mantle flow," Nature, Nature, vol. 524(7566), pages 458-461, August.
    2. Huaiyu Yuan & Barbara Romanowicz, 2010. "Lithospheric layering in the North American craton," Nature, Nature, vol. 466(7310), pages 1063-1068, August.
    3. Mousumi Roy & Thomas H. Jordan & Joel Pederson, 2009. "Colorado Plateau magmatism and uplift by warming of heterogeneous lithosphere," Nature, Nature, vol. 459(7249), pages 978-982, June.
    4. Alireza Bahadori & William E. Holt, 2019. "Geodynamic evolution of southwestern North America since the Late Eocene," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, December.
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