Rapid surface uplift and crustal flow in the Central Andes (southern Peru) controlled by lithospheric drip dynamics.

The high flux magmatism, crustal shortening/extension and plateau formation in Cordilleran orogenic systems have been explained by removal of lithosphere (lower crust and the sub-arc mantle lithosphere) that develops beneath the magmatic arc and hinterland regions. However, the primary role of this process driving surface uplift, and crustal deformation is not well understood. Here, reconciling geodynamic model predictions with lithospheric structure and paleoelevation estimates, we suggest that viscous drip-type lithospheric removal from beneath the Central (Peruvian) Andes can explain several tectonic features: (1) "double humped" shaped/axisymmetric topographic profile and rapid surface rise (up to 1.2 km in ~ 4.31 Myrs); (2) thicker crust associated with the lower surface elevation of the Altiplano plateau (Lake Titicaca region) (negative residual topography) and higher topography and thinner crust of Western and Eastern Cordilleras (positive residual topography); and (3) faster wave speed (colder)/sub-Moho anomaly underlying the Altiplano, surrounded by slower speed anomalies on both western arc-forearc areas and parts of the eastern Cordillera and Sub-Andes. Our results emphasize the important role of lithospheric drip and associated mantle dynamics in the transient evolution of Andean orogeny controlling surface uplift and crustal flow and thickening.

Drip tectonics and the enigmatic uplift of the Central Anatolian Plateau.

Lithospheric drips have been interpreted for various regions around the globe to account for the recycling of the continental lithosphere and rapid plateau uplift. However, the validity of such hypothesis is not well documented in the context of geological, geophysical and petrological observations that are tested against geodynamical models. Here we propose that the folding of the Central Anatolian (Kirsehir) arc led to thickening of the lithosphere and onset of "dripping" of the arc root. Our geodynamic model explains the seismic data showing missing lithosphere and a remnant structure characteristic of a dripping arc root, as well as enigmatic >1 km uplift over the entire plateau, Cappadocia and Galatia volcanism at the southern and northern plateau margins since ~10 Ma, respectively. Models show that arc root removal yields initial surface subsidence that inverts >1 km of uplift as the vertical loading and crustal deformation change during drip evolution.