Reconstructing Farallon Plate Subduction Beneath North America Back to the Late Cretaceous

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1162921
• Publication Date: 2008-11-06T22:58:55Z
• Authors: Lijun Liu; Sonja Spasojević; Michael Gurnis
• Keywords: Slab window; Slab

Using an inverse mantle convection model that assimilates seismic structure and plate motions, we reconstruct Farallon subduction back to 100 million years ago. Models consistent with stratigraphy constrain the depth dependence of viscosity buoyancy, requiring slab was flat lying in Late Cretaceous, geological reconstructions. The simulation predicts extensive zone shallow-dipping extended beyond flat-lying farther east north by up 1000 kilometers. limited region is notion oceanic plateau caused flatten. results imply images current provide more constraints on past tectonic events than previously recognized.