Patrizio Petricca

State of stress in slabs as a function of large‐scale plate kinematics

The state of stress of slabs subducting worldwide, as revealed by seismicity, is extremely variable both with depth and between different subduction zones. Although in principle, slab pull should enhance downdip extension in the slab, the reconstructed stress fields for intermediate depths (between 100 and 300 km) range from downdip compression to downdip extension. Using 2-D viscoelastic plane strain models we investigate the dependency of the stress field of slabs on geometry (dip of the slab) and kinematics (velocity of convergence between upper and lower plates and their absolute velocity with respect to the underlying mantle) of subduction zones. We conclude that although the state of stress in slabs is also controlled by other processes, downdip compression in the subducting slab is enhanced by mantle flow opposing the direction of the dip of the slab, whereas downdip extension is favored by mantle flow in the same direction of the slab dip (i.e., sustaining it). These predictions are in agreement with available geophysical observations, although exceptions to this simple pattern are observed worldwide. In addition, if the slab is decoupled from the upper plate, convergence between upper and lower plates induces a downdip compressional component of stress within the slab, decreasing the magnitude of extension in models characterized by mantle flow sustaining the slab and increasing compression in models with mantle flow opposing subduction. However, these are second-order variations when compared to the control exerted by absolute plate kinematics and by the magnitude of slab pull. Sensitivity analysis of rheological parameters allows us to conclude that these results are generally consistent, although low values of viscosity of the lithospheric mantle render this prediction less stable.

Evaluating the Role of Seagrass in Cenozoic CO2 Variations

Marine seagrass angiosperms play an important role in carbon sequestration, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and binding it as organic matter. Carbon is stored in the plants themselves, but also in the sediments both in inorganic and organic forms. The inorganic component is represented by carbonates produced by calcareous organisms living as epiphytes on seagrass leaves and rhizomes. In this paper, we find that the rate of seagrass epiphyte production (leaves and rhizomes), averages 400 g m-2 yr-1, as result of seagrass sampling at seven localities along the Mediterranean coasts, and related laboratory analysis. Seagrasses have appeared in the Late Cretaceous, becoming a place of remarkable carbonate production and C sequestration during the whole Cenozoic era. Here, we explore the potential contribution of seagrass as C sink on the atmospheric CO2 decrease by measuring changes in seagrass extent, which is directly associated with variations in the global coastal length associated with plate tectonics. We claim that global seagrass distribution significantly affected the atmospheric composition, particularly at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, when the CO2 concentration fell to 400 ppm, i.e. the approximate value of current atmospheric CO2.

Response: Commentary: Evaluating the Role of Seagrass in Cenozoic CO2 Variations

Dipartimento Scienze della Terra, Università Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy, 2 Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria (CNR), Sez. Sapienza, Dipartimento Scienze della Terra, Università Roma La Sapienza, Rome, Italy, Càtedra Guillem Colom Casasnovas, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 4 Laboratorio de Zoología, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain