On the impact of the bedrock erodibility on the depositional response time to a slab break-off using stratigraphic forward modeling
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Date:
02/11/2023
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Time:
4:00 pm
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Slab break-off is a geodynamic process in which the lower portion of a subducting plate detaches from its uppermost one. This process changes the force balance acting on the lithosphere causing tectonic uplift that can affect the sedimentary basin architecture by reducing the accommodation space and increasing the sediment supply due to source rejuvenation. While sediment supply intensity is commonly attributed to tectonic and/or climatic factors, recent studies have highlighted that the erodibility of the source area can have a significant effect on the timing of these signals. To investigate this hypothesis, we modify the stratigraphic forward modeling software GPM (Geological Process Modeling software provided and produced by SLB), to consider the impact of topography-dependent steady flow. The simulation involved clastic deposition in a deltaic environment and included variations in source area erodibility, sea level changes, tectonic rates, and variable water discharge. Simulations were conducted with increasing complexity to quantify the sensitivity of catchment scale depositional rates to the aforementioned changes.