Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 907-910 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | GEOLOGY |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2017 |
Abstract
Subduction of aseismic oceanic ridges causes uplift and deformation of the upper plate, but the impact of subducting topographic highs on drainage systems in the forearc of subduction zones has never been analyzed by numerical modeling. Here we couple a threedimensional finite-element model of ridge subduction to a landscape evolution model to investigate the impact of the subducting Cocos Ridge on the evolution of drainage patterns in Central America. Our model results show that rivers above both ridge flanks are deflected away from the ridge crest, which explains the diverting flow paths of rivers in the upper plate above the Cocos Ridge in nature. In contrast, model rivers show only minor deflection inboard of the broad crest of the Cocos Ridge, which agrees with the observation that rivers draining the central Talamanca Range in Costa Rica flow in a southwestern direction until being deflected near the coast by the tectonically active Fila Costeña thrust belt. The temporal evolution of river network and drainage divide in our model demonstrates that the modern drainage system in Costa Rica and Panama represents an advanced stage of ridge subduction, implying that the Cocos Ridge has been subducting for at least ~1.8 m.y. beneath Central America. Our findings imply that subducting bathymetric highs lead to distinct patterns in forearc drainage systems that can help determine both the onset and history of ridge subduction.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
- Geology
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In: GEOLOGY, Vol. 45, No. 10, 01.10.2017, p. 907-910.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of Cocos Ridge (Central America) subduction on the forearc drainage system
AU - Zeumann, Stefanie
AU - Hampel, Andrea
N1 - Funding information: We thank the editor D. Brown, N. Espurt, T. Gardner, and an anonymous reviewer for constructive comments that improved the manuscript. Funding was provided by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG; grant HA-3473/7-2). The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Global Digital Elevation Model data used in Figure 1 are a product of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) of Japan and NASA.
PY - 2017/10/1
Y1 - 2017/10/1
N2 - Subduction of aseismic oceanic ridges causes uplift and deformation of the upper plate, but the impact of subducting topographic highs on drainage systems in the forearc of subduction zones has never been analyzed by numerical modeling. Here we couple a threedimensional finite-element model of ridge subduction to a landscape evolution model to investigate the impact of the subducting Cocos Ridge on the evolution of drainage patterns in Central America. Our model results show that rivers above both ridge flanks are deflected away from the ridge crest, which explains the diverting flow paths of rivers in the upper plate above the Cocos Ridge in nature. In contrast, model rivers show only minor deflection inboard of the broad crest of the Cocos Ridge, which agrees with the observation that rivers draining the central Talamanca Range in Costa Rica flow in a southwestern direction until being deflected near the coast by the tectonically active Fila Costeña thrust belt. The temporal evolution of river network and drainage divide in our model demonstrates that the modern drainage system in Costa Rica and Panama represents an advanced stage of ridge subduction, implying that the Cocos Ridge has been subducting for at least ~1.8 m.y. beneath Central America. Our findings imply that subducting bathymetric highs lead to distinct patterns in forearc drainage systems that can help determine both the onset and history of ridge subduction.
AB - Subduction of aseismic oceanic ridges causes uplift and deformation of the upper plate, but the impact of subducting topographic highs on drainage systems in the forearc of subduction zones has never been analyzed by numerical modeling. Here we couple a threedimensional finite-element model of ridge subduction to a landscape evolution model to investigate the impact of the subducting Cocos Ridge on the evolution of drainage patterns in Central America. Our model results show that rivers above both ridge flanks are deflected away from the ridge crest, which explains the diverting flow paths of rivers in the upper plate above the Cocos Ridge in nature. In contrast, model rivers show only minor deflection inboard of the broad crest of the Cocos Ridge, which agrees with the observation that rivers draining the central Talamanca Range in Costa Rica flow in a southwestern direction until being deflected near the coast by the tectonically active Fila Costeña thrust belt. The temporal evolution of river network and drainage divide in our model demonstrates that the modern drainage system in Costa Rica and Panama represents an advanced stage of ridge subduction, implying that the Cocos Ridge has been subducting for at least ~1.8 m.y. beneath Central America. Our findings imply that subducting bathymetric highs lead to distinct patterns in forearc drainage systems that can help determine both the onset and history of ridge subduction.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85030027537&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1130/g39251.1
DO - 10.1130/g39251.1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85030027537
VL - 45
SP - 907
EP - 910
JO - GEOLOGY
JF - GEOLOGY
SN - 0091-7613
IS - 10
ER -