Changes in orientation of near‐surface stress field as constraints to mantle viscosity and horizontal stress differences in eastern Canada

Patrick Wu

Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 15 August 1996
Cited by: 17

Abstract

Observations indicate that the orientation of the stress field in Eastern Canada has changed significantly during the last 9,000 years. If this temporal rotation of stress orientation is due to changes of the dominant stress component from rebound stress 9,000 years ago to tectonic stress at the present, then this rotation in stress orientation can be used to constrain mantle viscosity and the difference between the horizontal tectonic (principal) stresses. Rebound stress in a Maxwell earth due to the application of a realistic ice load is calculated with the Finite Element method and is superposed on tectonic stress to give the total stress. It is demonstrated that large tectonic stress differences (>10 MPa) or high viscosity (≥ 1022 Pa‐s) in the lower‐mantle cannot explain this temporal stress rotation because in the former case, stress orientation is determined by the static tectonic stress while for the latter case, rebound stress continues to dominate the current stress orientation.

Number of times cited: 17

  • , Reply to comment by Hampel et al. on “Stress and fault parameters affecting fault slip magnitude and activation time during a glacial cycle”, Tectonics, 34, 11, (2359-2366), (2015).
  • , Stress and fault parameters affecting fault slip magnitude and activation time during a glacial cycle, Tectonics, 33, 7, (1461-1476), (2014).
  • , On the implementation of faults in finite-element glacial isostatic adjustment models, Computers & Geosciences, 62, (150), (2014).
  • SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2013 SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2013 Society of Exploration Geophysicists , (2013). 10.1190/segeab.32 , 10.1190/segeab.32 2013082009493100753 http://library.seg.org/doi/book/10.1190/segeab.32 Hydraulic fracturing triggers postglacial rebound related strain release , (2013). , (2013). 2248 2252 10.1190/segam2013-1106.1 , 10.1190/segam2013-1106.1 2013082009493100753 http://library.seg.org/doi/abs/10.1190/segam2013-1106.1
  • , Moment tensors, state of stress and their relation to post‐glacial rebound in northeastern Canada, Geophysical Journal International, 189, 3, (1741-1752), (2012).
  • , Crustal anisotropy beneath Hudson Bay from ambient noise tomography: Evidence for post‐orogenic lower‐crustal flow?, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 117, B8, (2012).
  • , Soft-sediment deformation of Late Pleistocene sediments along the southwestern coast of the Baltic Sea (NE Germany), International Journal of Earth Sciences, 101, 1, (351), (2012).
  • , North American dynamics and western U.S. tectonics, Reviews of Geophysics, 45, 3, (2007).
  • , Effects of a lithospheric weak zone on postglacial seismotectonics in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, Special Paper 425: Continental Intraplate Earthquakes: Science, Hazard, and Policy Issues, 10.1130/2007.2425(09), (113-128), (2007).
  • , Glacio-seismotectonics: ice sheets, crustal deformation and seismicity, Quaternary Science Reviews, 19, 14-15, (1367), (2000).
  • , Can deglaciation trigger earthquakes in N. America?, Geophysical Research Letters, 27, 9, (1323-1326), (2000).
  • , Postglacial rebound and fault instability in Fennoscandia, Geophysical Journal International, 139, 3, (657-670), (2002).
  • , Dependence of horizontal stress magnitude on load dimension in glacial rebound models, Geophysical Journal International, 132, 1, (41-60), (2002).
  • , Modelling of stresses in the Fennoscandian lithosphere induced by Pleistocene glaciations, Tectonophysics, 294, 3-4, (291), (1998).
  • , Effect of viscosity structure on fault potential and stress orientations in eastern Canada, Geophysical Journal International, 130, 2, (365-382), (2007).
  • , High horizontal stresses in Hudson Bay, Canada, Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 34, 7, (949), (1997).
  • , Induced stresses and fault potential in eastern Canada due to a realistic load: a preliminary analysis, Geophysical Journal International, 127, 1, (215-229), (2007).