Fig. 3: Temporal evolution. | Nature Communications

Fig. 3: Temporal evolution.

From: Episodic back-arc spreading centre jumps controlled by transform fault to overriding plate strength ratio

Fig. 3

a Trench velocities and b transform fault lengths for models with various plate widths. Model times are relative to the first back-arc basin opening. Opening of back-arc basins increase rollback rates (i.e. negative trench velocities) temporally. While the overriding plate and transforms grow with ongoing rollback, rollback rates decrease. Spreading jumps are displayed in the suddenly decreased transform length. Subduction ceases in the 400 km model, as well as in the 600 km model after the back-arc spreading centre jump, due to the inability to tear through lithosphere at plates interfaces (see Supplementary Information).

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