Membrane Tectonics

Abstract

Due to the ellipticity of the Earth the lithosphere must deform when its latitude changes. In this paper we approximate the lithosphere with an equivalent spherical dome and determine the membrane stresses associated with this deformation, Stresses of the order of kilobars are found. Stresses of this magnitude may result in propagating fractures in the lithosphere. Ocean island chains and graben valleys may be the result of such propagating fractures. Copyright © 1974, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved