Dynamics of Microplates
Abstract
Rotating, growing microplates are observed in a wax analog model of sea-floor spreading. We show that wax microplates are kinematically similar to sea-floor tectonic microplates in terms of spreading rate, growth rate and their characteristic spiral pseudofault geometry. We propose a theory for the formation of microplates.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2005
- Bibcode:
- 2005AGUFMNG33C0193B
- Keywords:
-
- 3040 Plate tectonics (8150;
- 8155;
- 8157;
- 8158);
- 4460 Pattern formation;
- 4485 Self-organization;
- 8110 Continental tectonics: general (0905)