What drives tectonic plates?

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax4295
• Publication Date: 2019-10-30T23:16:16Z
• Authors: Nicolas Coltice; Laurent Husson; Claudio Faccenna; Maëlis Arnould
• Keywords: Supercontinent

Does Earth's mantle drive plates, or do plates flow? This long-standing question may be ill posed, however, as both the lithosphere and belong to a single self-organizing system. Alternatively, this is better recast follows: dynamic balance between change over long-term tectonic reorganizations, at what spatial wavelengths are those processes operating? A hurdle in answering designing models of convection with realistic behavior evolving supercontinent cycles. By devising these models, we find that slabs pull rapid rates tear continents apart, keels only slowing down their drift when they not attached subducting plate. Our show tessellation varies higher degree than flow, which partly unlocks conceptualization plate tectonics unique, self-consistent