Mantle Flow Drives the Subsidence of Oceanic Plates

Abstract

Sinking Sea Floors The depths of ocean bottoms are constantly fluctuating at a very slow rate in response to the generation (at mid-ocean ridges) and consumption (at subduction zones) of sea-floor material. Because older sea floor is susceptible to sinking as it cools, it has been assumed that sea-floor depth varies directly with its age. However, Adam and Vidal (p. 83 ; see the Perspective by Tolstoy ) now show that the depth of the Pacific Ocean actually varies in response to the mantle underlying the oceanic crust. This effect is clear when sea-floor depth was measured along lithospheric flow lines—which represent the movement of oceanic crust triggered by mantle convection. Because the ocean bottom does not flatten as predicted by previous models, there is no need to invoke any additional heat supply to sustain old oceanic crust in thermal models of the mantle.