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Earth and Space Sciences · Glossary

What is Plate cooling model?

Definition 5.5 University Earth and Space Sciences — Year 3 · Chapter 5 — Thermal Models of the Lithosphere

The plate cooling model of the oceanic lithosphere takes each column as a layer 0≤z≤L0 \le z \le L of uniform diffusivity, at the uniform temperature TmT_m when it leaves the ridge, whose surface is held at T0T_0 and whose base is held at TmT_m from then on.

The two cooling models with the parameters of the text. (a) Depth of the isotherms from 200\, C (top) to 1400\, C (bottom): those of the half-space go on sinking as √ t, those of the plate stop as the profile becomes linear. (b) Surface heat flow: the plate model levels off at 47\, mW\, m-2, the half-space falls as 1/√ t.
The two cooling models with the parameters of the text. (a) Depth of the isotherms from 200 ∘C200\,{}^{\circ}\mathrm{C} (top) to 1400 ∘C1400\,{}^{\circ}\mathrm{C} (bottom): those of the half-space go on sinking as t\sqrt t, those of the plate stop as the profile becomes linear. (b) Surface heat flow: the plate model levels off at 47 mW m−247\,\mathrm{mW}\,\mathrm{m}^{-2}, the half-space falls as 1/t1/\sqrt t.
Depth of the ocean floor against its age: the median and the quartiles of the depths of the one-degree cells of each five-million-year bin (sea floor deeper than 1000\, m, ages from a global age grid, depths from a global relief model, no correction for sediment, seamounts or swells), with the two cooling models of the text.
Depth of the ocean floor against its age: the median and the quartiles of the depths of the one-degree cells of each five-million-year bin (sea floor deeper than 1000 m1000\,\mathrm{m}, ages from a global age grid, depths from a global relief model, no correction for sediment, seamounts or swells), with the two cooling models of the text.
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