A preliminary study on the lithospheric thermal structure and rheology of the Tibetan plateau

The lithosphere temperature beneath the Tibetan plateau was estimated by local isostasy equilibrium constrained geothermal calculation. Maps of the lateral temperature variation at depths of 40 km, 70 km, and Moho are presented for the Tibetan plateau, and the thermal thickness of the lithosphere is also presented. The Tibetan plateau has a warm and thick lithospheres, but the thinner lithospheres are identified in the northern Tibet and the eastern margin of the plateau. The warm and soft lithospheres in the Tibetan plateau may represent a snapshot of the early stage of convective thinning of the convergent lithosphere. The “crème brûlée” layering demonstrates the rheological behavior of the Tibetan plateau.