Seminar

Subductions are the super Earth factories, consuming oceanic plates and producing large earthquakes and volcanos. The South China Sea (SCS) is bounded by the Manila subduction at the eastern margin, and around 500 km-wide sea basin is subducted to deep mantle through the Manila subduction. If the Manila subduction continues, the SCS will close and disappear on Earth. Based on the geophysical observations, we propose that the initiation and development of the young Philippines subduction inhibits the Manila subduction, slowing down the termination of the SCS. Using 2D thermo-mechanical numeric models, we verified this idea, i.e., the growing young Philippines subduction absorbing plate convergence, leading to the declining of the Manila subduction. Thus, the fate of the SCS may change, instead of closing, it may preserve on Earth. 

Additional information: Prof Man Hoi Lee, mhlee@hku.hk