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Title:
Rheology of the upper mantle - A synthesis
Authors:
Karato, Shun-Ichiro; Wu, Patrick
Affiliation:
AA(Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis), AB(Calgary Univ., Canada)
Publication:
Science (ISSN 0036-8075), vol. 260, no. 5109, p. 771-778. (Sci Homepage)
Publication Date:
05/1993
Category:
Geophysics
Origin:
STI
NASA/STI Keywords:
Earth Mantle, Lithosphere, Plastic Flow, Rheology, Seismology, Creep Properties, Grain Size, Olivine
DOI:
10.1126/science.260.5109.771
Bibliographic Code:
1993Sci...260..771K

Abstract

Rheological properties of the upper mantle of the Earth play an important role in the dynamics of the lithosphere and asthenosphere. However, such fundamental issues as the dominant mechanisms of flow have not been well resolved. A synthesis of laboratory studies and geophysical and geological observations shows that transitions between diffusion and dislocation creep likely occur in the Earth's upper mantle. The hot and shallow upper mantle flows by dislocation creep, whereas cold and shallow or deep upper mantle may flow by diffusion creep. When the stress increases, grain size is reduced and the upper mantle near the transition between these two regimes is weakened. Consequently, deformation is localized and the upper mantle is decoupled mechanically near these depths.
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