Lithospheric Erosion in the Patagonian Slab Window, and Implications for
Glacial Isostasy
Abstract
The Patagonian slab window has been proposed to enhance the solid Earth
response to ice mass load changes in the overlying Northern and Southern
Patagonian Icefields (NPI and SPI, respectively). Here we present the
first regional seismic velocity model covering the entire north-south
extent of the slab window. A slow velocity anomaly in the uppermost
mantle indicates warm mantle temperature, low viscosity, and possibly
partial melt. Low velocities just below the Moho suggest that the
lithospheric mantle has been thermally eroded over the youngest part of
the slab window. The slowest part of the anomaly is north of 49°S,
implying that the NPI and the northern SPI overlie lower viscosity
mantle than the southern SPI. This comprehensive seismic mapping of the
slab window provides key evidence supporting the previously hypothesized
connection between post-Little Ice Age anthropogenic ice mass loss and
rapid geodetically observed glacial isostatic uplift (≥ 4 cm/yr).