Hydrologic controls on the morphology and mechanics of accretionary wedges

Research Article| March 01, 2002 Hydrologic controls on the morphology and mechanics of accretionary wedges Demian M. Saffer; Demian M. Saffer 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Barbara A. Bekins Barbara A. Bekins 2U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Demian M. Saffer 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA Barbara A. Bekins 2U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 13 Aug 2001 Revision Received: 20 Nov 2001 Accepted: 27 Nov 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2002) 30 (3): 271–274. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0271:HCOTMA>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 13 Aug 2001 Revision Received: 20 Nov 2001 Accepted: 27 Nov 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Demian M. Saffer, Barbara A. Bekins; Hydrologic controls on the morphology and mechanics of accretionary wedges. Geology 2002;; 30 (3): 271–274. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0271:HCOTMA>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract At many subduction zones, accretionary complexes form as sediments are offscraped from the subducting plate. Existing mechanical models that treat accretionary complexes as critically tapered wedges of sediment demonstrate that pore pressure controls their taper angle by modifying rock strength. We combine a model of groundwater flow with critical-taper theory to show that permeability and plate-convergence rate are important controls on accretionary wedge geometry through their influence on pore pressure. Low permeability and rapid convergence sustain nearly undrained conditions and shallowly tapered geometry, whereas high permeability and slow convergence result in steep geometry. Our results are generally in good agreement with data from active accretionary complexes, but also illustrate the importance of other factors, such as incoming sediment thickness and stratigraphy. One key implication is that strain rate and hydrologic properties may strongly influence the strength of the crust in a variety of geologic settings. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.