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Asymmetric Delamination and Convective Removal Numerical Modeling: Comparison with Evolutionary Models for the Alboran Sea Region

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Earth Sciences and Mathematics

Part of the book series: Pageoph Topical Volumes ((PTV))

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Abstract

Convective removal and mantle delamination are geodynamical mechanisms proposed to explain the presence of extension in the Alboran Sea within a regional context of compression. Using a new thermomechanical algorithm, we present here a quantitative evaluation and comparison of conceptual models based on these geodynamical mechanisms. In contrast to the in situ convective removal process, the laterally propagating delamination mechanism is shown here to be consistent with first-order features of the Alboran Sea such as the thinning/thickening distribution, intermediate-depth seismicity and upper mantle structure imaged by seismic tomography. The lower crust is predicted to reach depths of 100–150 km in some areas, due to mechanically-driven viscous drag of the downwelling mantle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Geophysics, Facultad CC. Físicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Av. Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Juan-Luis Valera & Ana-María Negredo

  2. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra ‘Jaume Almera’, CSIC, Lluís Solé i Sabarís, s/n., 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Antonio Villaseñor

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  1. Juan-Luis Valera
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  2. Ana-María Negredo
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  3. Antonio Villaseñor
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Astronomía y Geodesia (CSIC-UCM) Facultad Ciencias Matemáticas, Universidad Complutense Madrid Ciudad Universitaria, Plaza de Ciencias 3, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Antonio G. Camacho  & José Fernändez  & 

  2. Instituto de Matemática Interdisciplinar (IMI) Departamento de Matemática Aplicada Facultad Ciencias Matemáticas, Universidad Complutense Madrid Ciudad Universitaria, Plaza de Ciencias 3, 28040, Madrid

    Jesús I. Díaz

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Valera, JL., Negredo, AM., Villaseñor, A. (2008). Asymmetric Delamination and Convective Removal Numerical Modeling: Comparison with Evolutionary Models for the Alboran Sea Region. In: Camacho, A.G., Díaz, J.I., Fernändez, J. (eds) Earth Sciences and Mathematics. Pageoph Topical Volumes. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-9964-1_12

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