On the distribution of tangential mass forces in the Earth's lithosphere

Abstract

The study aims to determine and interpret the distribution of the global tangential mass force (TMF) vector field by azimuthal orientation and intensity. Using cluster and correlation analysis, we compared the direction of the TMF vector field with the direction of movement of permanent GNSS stations and the direction of movement of the GSRM model continental velocities from the Global Strain Rate Map Project. Methodology. The author continues their study of additional planetary stresses in the lithosphere caused by distributed mass forces. The forces in question may be linked to the repositioning of the Earth's lithosphere, which can create stresses aimed at aligning the distribution of lithospheric masses with the geoid's figure. This repositioning happens through the mechanism of gravitational forces and the principle of minimum potential energy. The presence of a deviation of the plum line from the normal to the surface of the solid Earth determines the appearance of TMF acting in the upper shell of the Earth. It is proposed to calculate the amplitudes and directions of the vectors of such TMF based on data regarding the difference in the parameters of two global ellipsoids that approximate the physical surface of the lithosphere and the geoid. Originality. For the modern era, the value of the angle of rotation between the smallest axis of the ellipsoid approximating the surface of the lithosphere and the axis of rotation of the Earth is 2.6°. The distribution of the TMF vector field is consistent with the contours of the continents, i.e., the arrows of the vectors indicate the directions of lateral movement of tectonic plates and the movement of continents during the Earth's evolution. As a result of the change in the orientation of the ellipsoid describing the lithosphere, an updated field of potential horizontal forces is formed, which, by the conservation of the momentum of motion, move lithospheric masses and generate stresses and deformations in the lithospheric shell. Since the TMF has different directions and intensities, a cluster analysis of the TMF distribution was performed. It revealed certain regularities in the distribution of these parameters. We also compared the directions of the TMF vector field with the directions of movement of permanent GNSS stations and the directions of movement of model velocities of the continents of the GSRM (digital model of the tensor field of the global velocity gradient). Scientific novelty. The study detailed the peculiarities of the connection between the directions of the TMF vector field, the directions of movement of permanent GNSS stations, and the ones of the model velocities of the GSRM continents. Studies of the TMF, which arise as a result of the reorientation of the thin solid shell of our planet, have shown that a deformation field of shear is formed on its surface. In our opinion, this is one of the likely factors of the process that triggers global movements of lithospheric blocks. As a result, the shape of the lithosphere is transformed, which is characterized by a change in the size of the axes of the ellipsoids describing the surface of the lithosphere and their orientation. Practical significance. The research results make it possible to more reliably interpret the peculiarities of the TMF distribution. These forces can trigger mechanisms for discharging accumulated stresses, which is important for studying seismicity.