Surface topography of the overriding plates in bi-vergent subduction systems: A mechanical model

Using a two-layer mechanical model we ran real time computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations to explore the underlying dynamics of the overriding plate (OP) topography in a bi-vergent subduction system. Our model topography develops typically a continental scale plateau, flanked by two distinct fore-arc highs and topographic depressions. We show that large scale flow vortices produced by the two subducting plates (SP) can sustain such...