The rigid-plate and shrinking-plate hypotheses: Implications for the azimuths of transform faults
Jay Kumar Mishra and Richard G. Gordon* The rigid-plate hypothesis implies that oceanic lithosphere does not contract horizontally as it cools (hereinafter “rigid plate”). An alternative hypothesis, that vertically averaged tensional thermal stress in the competent lithosphere is fully relieved by horizontal thermal contraction (hereinafter “shrinking plate”), predicts subtly different azimuths for transform faults. The […]
