Modeling erosion induced subsurface thermal changes and tectonic consequences

Erosion has been a dominant geological process. Erosion of the continental crust removes surface layers bringing hotter regions closer to the surface. Eroded surface layers also have larger radiogenic heat production. Effects of both these on the thermal evolution of crust have been earlier modelled analytically with the help of an advection-diffusion equation model. These processes lead to raising thermal gradient near the surface initially and decreasing later on depending on the rate of erosion. The changes in the thermal structure of the near surface region would lead to generation of thermal stresses, changes in the depth of brittle-ductile transition and lateral mass transport below this transition depth. Analytical models developed to quantify thermal effects due to erosion have been summarised and some numerical results, applicable to the south Indian region, are presented.