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Quantifying Tectonic and Geomorphic Interpretations of Thermochronometer Data with Inverse Problem Theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 August 2015

G. Bao ,
Y. Dou ,
T. A. Ehlers ,
P. Li ,
Y. Wang  and
Z. Xu
G. Bao*
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Y. Dou*
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
T. A. Ehlers*
Affiliation:
Institut fuer Geowissenschaften, Universitat Tuebingen, Germany
P. Li*
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
Y. Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA Department of Mathematics, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Z. Xu*
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
*
Email:bao@math.msu.edu
Email:dou@math.msu.edu
Email:tehlers@me.com
Email:lipeijun@purdue.edu
Corresponding author.Email:zhengfu@math.msu.edu
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Abstract

Thermochronometer data offer a powerful tool for quantifying a wide range of geologic processes, such as the deformation and erosion of mountain ranges, topographic evolution, and hydrocarbon maturation. With increasing interest to quantify a wider range of complicated geologic processes, more sophisticated techniques are needed. This paper is concerned with an inverse problem method for interpreting the thermochronometer data quantitatively. Two novel models are proposed to simulate the crustal thermal fields and paleo mountain topography as a function of tectonic and surface processes. One is a heat transport model that describes the change of temperature of rocks; while the other is surface process model which explains the change of mountain topography. New computational algorithms are presented for solving the inverse problem of the coupled system of these two models. The model successfully provides a new tool for reconstructing the kinematic and the topographic history of mountains.

Keywords

86A2235R3735Q8086A60Thermochronologyheat equationsinverse problemvariational methoditerative methodsurface processes
Type
Research Article
Information
Communications in Computational Physics , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , January 2011 , pp. 129 - 146
Copyright
Copyright © Global Science Press Limited 2011

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