关键词: 岩石圈, 流变模型, 结构分层

Abstract: The objective of lithosphere rheology is to study deformation, flow and their mechanisms of lithospheric materials. With the rich results of the experimental rock mechanics under high temperature and high pressure and of geothermal study, this research field has made great progress since 1970’s. The significant advance was that Ranalli et al. (1987) constructed 7 lithospheric rheological profiles and expouded the properties of lithospheric rheological stratification and other scientists have achieved the similar results for different regions ever since. As a result, the theory of lithospheric rheological stratification has come into being. The tectonic phenomena of different scale studied in many subdisciplines of geoscience may be interpreted by applying this theory. Lithospheric structural stratificantion and rheological properties control the formation and evolution, especially deformation of continental tectonics. The studies of recent years have indicated that a series of plutonic tectonic actions, such as ductile shear of lower crust, gravitational collapse and relaxation of Moho topography in the late and post orogenic evolution of mountain belts, correlate closely with softening and plastic flow of lower crust while the brittle regime of mid upper crust or uppermost mantle in the convergent belt controls the distribution of earthquake foci.

Key words: Lithosphere, Rheologic model, Structural stratification