Large-scale morphotectonics of the ocean-continent transition zone between the Western Pacific Ocean and the East Asian Continent: a link of deep process to the Earth's surface system

• Published in: Geological journal (Chichester, England) England), 2016-08, Vol.51 (S1), p.263-285
• Main Authors: Dmitrienko, L V, Li, S Z, Cao, X Z, Suo, Y H, Wang, Y M, Dai, L M, Somerville, I D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0072-1050; 1099-1034
• DOI: 10.1002/gj.2845

As an active margin of the Pacific Plate, the ocean-continent transition zone records major tectonic events from the Late Mesozoic to the present-day. The development of the transition zone between the Western Pacific Ocean and the East Asian Continental Margin occurred in two stages. In the first stage, the formation of the Songliao and Bohai Bay basins was initiated earlier in the Mesozoic and then the active tectonic events that moved southeastwards to develop the East China Sea and Japan Sea basins in the Cenozoic. We use the methods of tectonics and geophysical analysis for the tectonic reconstruction of the transition zone in the most significant periods of tectonic activity in this area. We propose that the deep processes have a direct influence on the Meso-Cenozoic surface geomorphologic system in the transition zone. This paper tries to reveal the mechanism of continental margin dynamics by comparing the stratigraphy, sedimentary character and magmatism for each of the four basins, as well as the gravity anomalies, the results of mantle tomography, and thickness of the crust and lithosphere. Our results show that the Songliao and Bohai Bay basins and the East China Sea and Japan Sea basins have similarities in their geomorphological characteristics and sequential tectonic evolution. The Meso-Cenozoic morphotectonic processes are dominated by the subduction retreat of the (Palaeo-)Pacific Plate and the eastward tectonic jump. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.