Transverse deformation waves in the non-isothermal lithosphere‒asthenosphere system

The features of the occurrence and propagation of transverse deformation waves in the elastic lithosphere – viscous asthenosphere system under non-isothermal conditions are studied in the approximation of a thin layer. In this case, the phase transition at the boundary of the layers, due to temperature and pressure disturbances, plays an essential role. The qualitative and quantitative properties of propagation of disturbances of thermomechanical fields have been studied in the long-wave approximation. It is shown that due to the energy supply from the non-isothermal asthenosphere, weakly attenuated wave packets can occur, which spread over thousands of km with a characteristic speed of about 100 km/year. This allows them to be considered as a possible trigger mechanism for the massive emission of methane from frozen sedimentary rocks into the atmosphere.