title: Small-scale mantle convection produces stratigraphic sequences in sedimentary basins.
abstract: Cyclic sedimentary deposits link stratigraphic sequences that are now geographically distant but were once part of the same depositional environment. Some of these sequences occur at periods of 2 to 20 million years, and eustatic sea-level variations or regional tectonic events are likely causes of their formation. Using numerical modeling, we demonstrate that small-scale mantle convection can also cause the development of stratigraphic sequences through recurrent local and regional vertical surface movements. Small-scale convection-driven stratigraphic sequences occur at periods of 2 to 20 million years and correlate only at distances up to a few hundred kilometers. These results suggest that previous sequence stratigraphic analyses may contain erroneous conclusions regarding eustatic sea-level variations.
authors: Department of Earth Science, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. kenni@geo.au.dk
authors: K D
authors: KD
authors: Petersen
authors: S B
authors: SB
authors: Nielsen
authors: O R
authors: OR
authors: Clausen
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Stephenson
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Gerya