Accretion versus erosion and sediment transfer balance near the subduction interface

The nature and amount of sediment transferred from one plate to the other near the subduction interface partly determines the tectonic and seismogenic regime of a margin. Examination of over 500 multichannel seismic lines has enabled us to build up a global database of subduction zone front characte...

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Main Authors: Lallemand, Serge, Peyret, Michel, Arcay, Diane, Heuret, Arnauld
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Académie des sciences 2024-04-01
Series:Comptes Rendus. Géoscience
Subjects:
Online Access:https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/geoscience/articles/10.5802/crgeos.252/
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author Lallemand, Serge
Peyret, Michel
Arcay, Diane
Heuret, Arnauld
author_facet Lallemand, Serge
Peyret, Michel
Arcay, Diane
Heuret, Arnauld
author_sort Lallemand, Serge
collection DOAJ
description The nature and amount of sediment transferred from one plate to the other near the subduction interface partly determines the tectonic and seismogenic regime of a margin. Examination of over 500 multichannel seismic lines has enabled us to build up a global database of subduction zone front characteristics at unprecedented spatial resolution. The total thickness of sediment in the trench below the deformation front, as well as that of the subduction channel at a distance from the trench, combined with other indices such as the tectonic regime of the forearc or the migration of the volcanic front, have enabled us to revisit the accretionary or erosional character of active margins. Preliminary conclusions, based on ${\sim }$3/4 of sufficiently documented subduction zones, show a predominance of the erosive character of subduction over the last million years. The flux of solid matter through the shallow part of the subduction channel is of the order of 1.5 km$^{3}$/yr, and that of pore fluids 0.4 km$^{3}$/yr. Some subduction zones, such as the Mediterranean, are characterized by exceptional solid flux in the channel, while fluid flux is comparatively moderate. This is due to the fact that channel sediments are compacted even before subduction. Overall, fluid flux in the channel is greater under erosive margins, due to the higher rate of subduction and often higher porosity. Maximum porosity in the channel is reached when there is neither accretion nor tectonic erosion.
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spelling doaj-art-f7f721cea1cd407eb6ea2ac20bca3c272025-02-07T10:41:48ZengAcadémie des sciencesComptes Rendus. Géoscience1778-70252024-04-01356S2275110.5802/crgeos.25210.5802/crgeos.252Accretion versus erosion and sediment transfer balance near the subduction interfaceLallemand, Serge0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1924-9423Peyret, Michel1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3882-4403Arcay, Diane2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6773-0807Heuret, Arnauld3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0186-5260Geosciences Montpellier, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Université des Antilles, FranceGeosciences Montpellier, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Université des Antilles, FranceGeosciences Montpellier, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Université des Antilles, FranceGeosciences Montpellier, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, FranceThe nature and amount of sediment transferred from one plate to the other near the subduction interface partly determines the tectonic and seismogenic regime of a margin. Examination of over 500 multichannel seismic lines has enabled us to build up a global database of subduction zone front characteristics at unprecedented spatial resolution. The total thickness of sediment in the trench below the deformation front, as well as that of the subduction channel at a distance from the trench, combined with other indices such as the tectonic regime of the forearc or the migration of the volcanic front, have enabled us to revisit the accretionary or erosional character of active margins. Preliminary conclusions, based on ${\sim }$3/4 of sufficiently documented subduction zones, show a predominance of the erosive character of subduction over the last million years. The flux of solid matter through the shallow part of the subduction channel is of the order of 1.5 km$^{3}$/yr, and that of pore fluids 0.4 km$^{3}$/yr. Some subduction zones, such as the Mediterranean, are characterized by exceptional solid flux in the channel, while fluid flux is comparatively moderate. This is due to the fact that channel sediments are compacted even before subduction. Overall, fluid flux in the channel is greater under erosive margins, due to the higher rate of subduction and often higher porosity. Maximum porosity in the channel is reached when there is neither accretion nor tectonic erosion.https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/geoscience/articles/10.5802/crgeos.252/SubductionActive marginsOceanic trenchesSubduction channelAccretionErosionSediment flux
spellingShingle Lallemand, Serge
Peyret, Michel
Arcay, Diane
Heuret, Arnauld
Accretion versus erosion and sediment transfer balance near the subduction interface
Comptes Rendus. Géoscience
Subduction
Active margins
Oceanic trenches
Subduction channel
Accretion
Erosion
Sediment flux
title Accretion versus erosion and sediment transfer balance near the subduction interface
title_full Accretion versus erosion and sediment transfer balance near the subduction interface
title_fullStr Accretion versus erosion and sediment transfer balance near the subduction interface
title_full_unstemmed Accretion versus erosion and sediment transfer balance near the subduction interface
title_short Accretion versus erosion and sediment transfer balance near the subduction interface
title_sort accretion versus erosion and sediment transfer balance near the subduction interface
topic Subduction
Active margins
Oceanic trenches
Subduction channel
Accretion
Erosion
Sediment flux
url https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/geoscience/articles/10.5802/crgeos.252/
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AT peyretmichel accretionversuserosionandsedimenttransferbalancenearthesubductioninterface
AT arcaydiane accretionversuserosionandsedimenttransferbalancenearthesubductioninterface
AT heuretarnauld accretionversuserosionandsedimenttransferbalancenearthesubductioninterface