3-D electrical conductivity distribution of the mantle wedge in the subduction zone, NE Japan

What is it about?

A fine 3-D mantle wedge conductivity distribution in subduction zone is imaged by this study. This reveals the snap shot of the fluid motion in the mantle wedge, which takes a reverse flow from the volcanic front to the backarc direction. This attitude was predicted by the numerical simulation study in over 20 years ago, but the evidence has not yet detected by any other observation.

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Why is it important?

This attitude of the mantle wedge flow was predicted by the numerical simulation study in over 20 years ago. However, the evidence has not yet observed by any other studies. Our study detects this evidence, and claims that a little modification is needed in the hot-finger hypothesis which explains backarc volcanism in the NE Japan arc.

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