Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2016, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (1): 38-47.doi: 10.11978/2015026CSTR: 32234.14.2015026

• Marine Geophysics • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Magnetic structure of the oceanic lithosphere and its dynamic implications

LIU Qingsong1, LIU Jianxing1, 2, DUAN Zongqi1   

  1. 1. The Tethys Research Center, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China;
    2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2015-02-17 Online:2016-01-10 Published:2016-02-02
  • Contact: LIU Qingsong, E-mail: qsliu@mail.iggcas.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    Chinese Continental Shelf Deep Drilling Program (GZH201100202); National Program on Global Change and Air-Sea Interaction (GASI-GEOGE-03); National Natural Science Foundation of China (41430962, 41374073)

Abstract: In the last century, paleomagnetism, especially studies on magnetic properties of oceanic crusts, have greatly promoted the development of the plate tectonics theory and the International Ocean Drilling Program. The oceanic crust carries two kinds of magnetic information: magnetic properties of the magnetic assemblage in the oceanic crust, and the paleomagnetic signals carried by these minerals. Generally, the oceanic crust consists of a lower oceanic lithosphere (including pillow basalt, gabbro and peridotite) and overlying marine sediments. This paper summarized the magnetic structure of the oceanic crust, and then discussed relevant dynamic processes including chronological indications of oceanic magnetic anomalies, dynamic processes of the Earth’s interior, kinematics of the oceanic crust, and evolution of hotspots. Then, we systematically summarized major progresses of magnetic studies of the South China Sea. Key scientific topics related to magnetic properties of oceanic crusts in future studies were also discussed.

Key words: oceanic lithosphere, oceanic magnetic anomalies, paleomagnetism, geodynamics, the South China Sea