Fig. 2

Model setup. a Initial model configuration. Enlargement (2700 × 670 km) of the numerical box (6400 × 670 km) is shown. White lines are isotherms with an interval of 300 °C. A constant velocity of 5 cm yr⁻¹ is assigned within the pro-plate. Different colors refer to different lithologies, with the colorbar: 1/2 = sediment; 3 = pro-/retro-plate upper crust; 4 = pro-/retro-plate lower crust; 5 = strong terrane upper crust; 6 = strong terrane lower crust; 7 = weak terrane upper crust; 8 = weak terrane lower crust; 9 = initial weak zone; 10 = pro-lithospheric and retro-lithospheric mantle; 11 = strong terrane lithospheric mantle; 12 = weak terrane lithospheric mantle; 13 = asthenosphere; 14 = partially molten upper crust of the pro-plate and retro-plate; 15 = partially molten upper crust of the strong and weak terranes; 16 = oceanic crust; 17 = oceanic lithospheric mantle. b Three rheological structures of the continental lithosphere. Rheological strength profiles are obtained for the 120-km-thick lithosphere with an initial Moho temperature of 400 °C for pro-plate and retro-plate and of 450 °C for the strong and weak terranes. The prescribed constant strain rate is 10⁻¹⁶ s⁻¹