# Slab pull

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Part of the motion of a tectonic plate caused by its subduction

**Slab pull** is a [geophysical](/source/Geophysics) mechanism whereby the cooling and subsequent densifying of a [subducting](/source/Subduction) [tectonic plate](/source/Plate_tectonics) produces a downward force along the rest of the plate. In 1975 Forsyth and Uyeda used the [inverse theory](/source/Inverse_problem) method to show that, of the many forces likely to be driving plate motion, slab pull was the strongest.[1] Plate motion is partly driven by the weight of cold, dense plates sinking into the [mantle](/source/Mantle_(geology)) at [oceanic trenches](/source/Oceanic_trench).[2][3] This force and [slab suction](/source/Slab_suction_force) account for almost all of the force driving [plate tectonics](/source/Plate_tectonics). The [ridge push](/source/Ridge_push) at rifts contributes only 5 to 10%.[4]

Carlson et al. (1983)[5] in Lallemand et al. (2005)[6] defined the [slab](/source/Slab_(geology)) pull force as:

- F s p = K × Δ ρ × L × A {\displaystyle F_{sp}=K\times \Delta \rho \times L\times {\sqrt {A}}}

Where:

- *K* is 4.2g (gravitational acceleration = 9.81 m/s2) according to McNutt (1984);[7]

- *Δρ* = 80 kg/m3 is the mean density difference between the slab and the surrounding asthenosphere;

- *L* is the slab length calculated only for the part above 670 km (the upper/lower mantle boundary);

- *A* is the slab age in [Ma](/source/Annum) at the trench.

The slab pull force manifests itself between two extreme forms:

- The aseismic [back-arc](/source/Back-arc_basin) [extension](/source/Extension_(geology)) as in the [Izu–Bonin–Mariana Arc](/source/Izu%E2%80%93Bonin%E2%80%93Mariana_Arc).

- And as the [Aleutian](/source/Aleutian_Arc) and [Chile](/source/List_of_earthquakes_in_Chile) tectonics with strong earthquakes and back-arc [thrusting](/source/Thrust_fault).

Between these two examples there is the evolution of the [Farallon Plate](/source/Farallon_Plate): from the huge slab width with the [Nevada](/source/Nevada_orogeny), the [Sevier](/source/Sevier_orogeny) and [Laramide orogenies](/source/Laramide_orogeny); the [Mid-Tertiary ignimbrite flare-up](/source/Mid-Tertiary_ignimbrite_flare-up) and later left as [Juan de Fuca](/source/Juan_de_Fuca_Plate) and [Cocos](/source/Cocos_Plate) plates, the [Basin and Range Province](/source/Basin_and_Range_Province) under extension, with [slab break off](/source/Slab_detachment), smaller slab width, more edges and [mantle](/source/Mantle_(geology)) return flow.

Some early models of [plate tectonics](/source/Plate_tectonics) envisioned the plates riding on top of convection cells like [conveyor belts](/source/Conveyor_belt). However, most scientists working today believe that the [asthenosphere](/source/Asthenosphere) does not directly cause motion by the [friction](/source/Friction) of such basal forces.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The [North American Plate](/source/North_American_Plate) is nowhere being [subducted](/source/Subduction), yet it is in motion, and likewise for the [African](/source/African_Plate), [Eurasian](/source/Eurasian_Plate) and [Antarctic Plates](/source/Antarctic_Plate). Ridge push is thought responsible for the motion of these plates.

The subducting slabs around the [Pacific Ring of Fire](/source/Pacific_Ring_of_Fire) cool down the Earth and its [core-mantle boundary](/source/Core-mantle_boundary). Around the African Plate upwelling mantle plumes from the core-mantle boundary produce [rifting](/source/Rifting_(geology)) including the [African](/source/African_Rift_Valley) and [Ethiopian](/source/Ethiopian_Rift_Valley) rift valleys.

## See also

- [Mid-ocean ridge](/source/Mid-ocean_ridge)

- [Seafloor spreading](/source/Seafloor_spreading)

- [Ridge push](/source/Ridge_push)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Forsyth, Donald; Uyeda, Seiya (1975-10-01). ["On the Relative Importance of the Driving Forces of Plate Motion"](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1365-246X.1975.tb00631.x). *Geophysical Journal International*. **43** (1): 163–200. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1975GeoJ...43..163F](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1975GeoJ...43..163F). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1365-246X.1975.tb00631.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1365-246X.1975.tb00631.x). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0956-540X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0956-540X).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Conrad, Clinton P.; [Lithgow-Bertelloni, Carolina](/source/Carolina_Lithgow-Bertelloni) (2002-10-04). "How Mantle Slabs Drive Plate Tectonics". *Science*. **298** (5591): 207–209. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2002Sci...298..207C](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2002Sci...298..207C). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1126/science.1074161](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.1074161). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0036-8075](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0036-8075). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [12364804](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12364804). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [36766442](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:36766442).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Plate tectonics, based on 'Geology and the Environment', 5 ed; 'Earth', 9 ed"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110711084813/http://powerpoints.geology-guy.com/pipkin/pipkin_chapter3.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http://powerpoints.geology-guy.com/pipkin/pipkin_chapter3.pdf) (PDF) on July 11, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Conrad CP, [Lithgow-Bertelloni C](/source/Carolina_Lithgow-Bertelloni) (2004)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Carlson, R. L.; Hilde, T. W. C.; Uyeda, S. (1983). "The driving mechanism of plate tectonics: Relation to age of the lithosphere at trenches". *Geophysical Research Letters*. **10** (4): 297–300. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1983GeoRL..10..297C](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1983GeoRL..10..297C). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1029/GL010i004p00297](https://doi.org/10.1029%2FGL010i004p00297).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Lallemand, Serge; Arnauld; Boutelier, David (2005). ["On the relationships between slab dip, back-arc stress, upper plate absolute motion, and crustal nature in subduction zones: SUBDUCTION ZONE DYNAMICS"](https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01261567/file/lallemandG32005.pdf) (PDF). *Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems*. **6** (9): n/a. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2005GGG.....6.9006L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005GGG.....6.9006L). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1029/2005GC000917](https://doi.org/10.1029%2F2005GC000917).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** McNutt, Marcia K. (1984-12-10). "Lithospheric flexure and thermal anomalies". *Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth*. **89** (B13): 11180–11194. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1984JGR....8911180M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1984JGR....8911180M). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1029/JB089iB13p11180](https://doi.org/10.1029%2FJB089iB13p11180).

## Further reading

- Schellart, W. P.; Stegman, D. R.; Farrington, R. J.; Freeman, J.; Moresi, L. (16 July 2010). "Cenozoic Tectonics of Western North America Controlled by Evolving Width of Farallon Slab". *Science*. **329** (5989): 316–319. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2010Sci...329..316S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010Sci...329..316S). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1126/science.1190366](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.1190366). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [20647465](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20647465). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [12044269](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:12044269).

- ["Breakthrough Achieved in Explaining Why Tectonic Plates Move the Way They Do"](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100716125841.htm). ScienceDaily. 17 July 2010.

- Clinton P. Conrad; Susan Bilek; [Carolina Lithgow-Bertelloni](/source/Carolina_Lithgow-Bertelloni) (2004). ["Great earthquakes and slab pull: interaction between seismic coupling and plate-slab coupling"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110613195606/http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/FACULTY/conrad/papers/Conrad_EPSL2004.pdf) (PDF). *Earth and Planetary Science Letters*. **218** (1–2): 109–122. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2004E&PSL.218..109C](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2004E&PSL.218..109C). [CiteSeerX](/source/CiteSeerX_(identifier)) [10.1.1.506.2266](https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.506.2266). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/S0012-821X(03)00643-5](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0012-821X%2803%2900643-5). Archived from [the original](http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/FACULTY/conrad/papers/Conrad_EPSL2004.pdf) (PDF) on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2010-11-18.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Slab pull](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slab_pull) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slab_pull?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.