Revisiting the temporal evolution of oceanic subduction

Although based off the elegant theory of thermal boundary layer, the evolution of oceanic plate remains debated, especially regarding its fate after subduction. Traditional geodynamic exercises tend to approximate oceanic subduction using regional 2D or 3D models, but models that evaluate the full history of subduction are still rare, largely due to the challenge in reproducing realistic Earth subduction and unaffordable computational costs. In recent years, we devoted to the development of multi-scale subduction models with data assimilation that simultaneously simulate all relevant subduction processes through geological history while taking various observational constraints into account. Based on these models, we revisited several aspects of the evolving oceanic slabs within the convective mantle. For example, we examined the trajectory of subducted slabs over time, quantified the sinking rate of slabs, as well as reevaluated the driving forces of plate motion, the asthenosphere-lithosphere interaction, and associated plume dynamics. In this presentation, we will share our recent progress on these topics.