About this Research Topic
Plate subduction and collision zone is one of the most active tectonic regimes on the Earth, which controls the mass and energy circulation between the Earth’s surface and interior, produces the majority of volcanoes and earthquakes, and is strongly correlated with the generation of mineral resources. The subducting oceanic slab penetrates through the mantle, interacts with multiple phase transition layers, and results in variable slab morphologies and complex mantle flow; at the same time, the volatiles (water, carbon, etc) could be released from the sinking slab and may strongly modify the surrounding mantle, overriding lithosphere, and even the surficial environment of the Earth. On the other hand, the continental plate subduction and collision generally follow the closure of oceanic subduction and leads to the exhumation of the high-pressure metamorphic rocks and the formation of the great mountain belts on the Earth. The subduction/collision dynamics is a key element of plate tectonics and geodynamics; however, many problems of this research field remain unclear and widely debated.
The subduction and collision dynamics of tectonic plates involve multiple processes and multi-scale mechanisms: from oceanic subduction to continental collision; from microscopic mechanism to macroscopic processes, from mechanical evolution to the physical and chemical effects. Besides the geological and geophysical observations and analyses, the geodynamic modeling may also contribute greatly to the understanding of complex subduction/collision processes. Thus, this Research Topic aims to bring together multi-disciplinary studies, especially geodynamic modeling, with the general goal of understanding the processes, dynamics, and effects of plate subduction and collision.
We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Methods, and other article types of contributions suited for this topic. We particularly encourage (but are not limited to) contributions of the following issues:
• Oceanic and continental subduction channel processes, with metamorphic, magmatic, and earthquake implications，
• Deep sinking slab interaction with multiple phase transitions, and the possible density and viscosity variations，
• Devolatization and fluid/melt activity during subduction, and their effects on the lithosphere/mantle modification and surface environment，
• Deep structures and lithospheric deformation of mountain building, which may be connected with the surface expressions，
• Subduction and collision-induced mantle flow, strain evolution, and seismic anisotropy.
The subduction and collision dynamics of tectonic plates involve multiple processes and multi-scale mechanisms: from oceanic subduction to continental collision; from microscopic mechanism to macroscopic processes, from mechanical evolution to the physical and chemical effects. Besides the geological and geophysical observations and analyses, the geodynamic modeling may also contribute greatly to the understanding of complex subduction/collision processes. Thus, this Research Topic aims to bring together multi-disciplinary studies, especially geodynamic modeling, with the general goal of understanding the processes, dynamics, and effects of plate subduction and collision.
We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Methods, and other article types of contributions suited for this topic. We particularly encourage (but are not limited to) contributions of the following issues:
• Oceanic and continental subduction channel processes, with metamorphic, magmatic, and earthquake implications，
• Deep sinking slab interaction with multiple phase transitions, and the possible density and viscosity variations，
• Devolatization and fluid/melt activity during subduction, and their effects on the lithosphere/mantle modification and surface environment，
• Deep structures and lithospheric deformation of mountain building, which may be connected with the surface expressions，
• Subduction and collision-induced mantle flow, strain evolution, and seismic anisotropy.
Keywords: convergent plate boundary, oceanic subduction, continental collision, lithospheric deformation, mantle flow, geodynamics
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
