The mantle wedge's transient 3-D flow regime and thermal structure

Abstract

Arc volcanism, volatile cycling, mineralization, and continental crust formation are likely regu-lated by the mantle wedge’s flow regime and thermal structure. Wedge flow is often assumed to follow a regular corner-flow pattern. However, studies that incorporate a hydrated rheology and thermal buoyancy predict internal small-scale-convection (SSC). Here, we systematically explore mantle-wedge dynamics in 3- D simulations. We find that longitudinal ‘‘Richter-rolls’’ of SSC (with trench-perpendicular axes) commonly occur if wedge hydration reduces viscosities to ≤1 ∙ 10^19 Pa s, although transient transverse rolls (with trench-parallel axes) can dominate at viscosities of ~5 ∙ 10^18 - 1 ∙ 10^19 Pa s. Rolls below the arc and back arc differ. Subarc rolls have similar trench-parallel and trench-perpendicular dimensions of 100–150 km and evolve on a 1–5 Myr time-scale. Subback-arc instabilities, on the other hand, coalesce into elongated sheets, usually with a preferential trench-perpendicular alignment, display a wavelength of 150–400 km and vary on a 5–10 Myr time scale. The modulating influence of subback-arc ridges on the subarc system increases with stronger wedge hydration, higher subduction velocity, and thicker upper plates. We find that trench-parallel averages of wedge velocities and temperature are consistent with those predicted in 2-D models. However, lithospheric thinning through SSC is somewhat enhanced in 3-D, thus expanding hydrous melting regions and shifting dehydration boundaries. Subarc Richter-rolls generate time-dependent trench-parallel temperature variations of up to ~150 K, which exceed the transient 50–100 K variations predicted in 2-D and may contribute to arc-volcano spacing and the variable seismic velocity structures imaged beneath some arcs.