Earth:Backstop (geology)

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Short description: Geology term

In geology, a backstop is the region of forearcs that has much higher shear strength and yield strength than other overriding material closer to the oceanic trench.[1][2] The area between the backstop and the trench deforms more than the area from the backstop away from the trench, resulting in different degrees of accumulated deformation.[2] In other words, it can be said that the backstop is relatively resistant to deviatoric stresses induced by subduction.[2]

References

  1. Byrne, Daniel E.; Wang, Wei-hau; Davis, Dan M. (1993). "Mechanical role of backstops in the growth of forearcs". Tectonics 12 (1): 123–144. doi:10.1029/92TC00618. Bibcode1993Tecto..12..123B. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kopp, Heidrun; Kukowski, Nina (2003). "Backstop geometry and accretionary mechanics of the Sunda margin". Tectonics 22 (6): 1072. doi:10.1029/2002TC001420. Bibcode2003Tecto..22.1072K.