Sediment Cover Influences Subduction Dynamics and Orocline Formation in Oceanic Domain-Insights from Numerical Modeling

One important consideration in subduction dynamics is the role of subducted sediments. Although thin sediment covers are volumetrically a very minor part of a subducting plate, they could have considerable leverage. Subducted, fluid-rich sediments potentially facilitate magma generation in the mantle and could lubricate the subduction zone. Sediment accumulation in the trench (accretionary wedge) could modulate subduction angle and slow down or block slab retreat. In this study, we test the influence of the sediment cover on subduction dynamics and specifically orocline formation.