New constraints to subduction zone arc and backarc mantle temperatures: a test of the corner flow model

The heat source for the hot volcanic arc of subduction zones and the uniformly warm backarc is not well understood, particularly where backarc extension is absent. In the widely studied corner flow model, the traction of the underthrusting plate drags down the overlying viscous mantle, and the induced shallower seaward flow brings in heat from the landward and deeper asthenosphere. However, earlier comparisons with observations, especially backarc heat flow, gave poor agreement. There are several new constraints to the temperatures and structures above the underthrusting plate and in the backarc, especially those in western North America, for comparison with model predictions. Seismic receiver functions map horizontal boundaries, including the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary (LAB). Seismic shear wave tomography gives mantle velocity–depth that provides an approximate proxy for temperature. Attenuation of seismic wave speed indicates high temperature or partial melting. The presence of recent backarc volcanics and their geochemistry give the depth and temperature of the LAB. From these constraints in western North America, the LAB reflects ponding of partial melt, is consistently at a depth of 65 ± 3 km and temperature of 1350 ± 25 °C, and overlies nearly constant temperature (adiabatic) asthenosphere across the backarc from Mexico to Alaska. These depth and temperature estimates are greatly different from corner flow model predictions. An alternative hypothesis more consistent with these constraints is vigorous small-scale convection in the backarc asthenosphere. Whether or how this convection coexists with the large-scale flow patterns inferred from the interpretation of seismic anisotropy analyses and to what degree it prevails in the arc–forearc region deserve further research.