Arc-continent collision is associated with vigorous mountain building and terrane accretion on relatively short (<10 Ma) geologic timescales. It is believed to be an important mechanism for the growth of continents. Taiwan represents one of the few active examples of this process. As such, is the perfect natural laboratory to investigate the nature of the continent ocean boundary and the uncertain behavior of the accretionary prism and extended, transitional rifted margin crust during the collision process. Taiwan also provides a unique opportunity to investigate structures in the backarc, yielding key insights into the still controversial tectonic conditions that were responsible for the unique subduction-collision system observed today. The obliquity of the collision between the North Luzon Arc and the Chinese rifted margin allows for examination of different temporal stages of collision at different locations. Recently acquired seismic reflection and wide-angle seismic refraction data, offshore Taiwan, document the crustal structure of the incipient mountain belt and of the Philippine Sea Plate in the backarc domain to the east. Geophysical profiles offshore southern Taiwan show evidence for a transition from the subduction of ocean crust to highly extended, transitional continental crust of the northern South China Sea distal margin. During oceanic subduction, accretion and underplating of thick sedimentary cover sequences create a large 13-15 km thick accretionary prism. Prior to the encroachment of the continental shelf, there is evidence for further underplating of transitional distal margin crust to the base of the prism. These findings support a multi-phase collisional model in which early growth of the mountain belt is driven by structural underplating of the previously sedimentary-only accretionary prism with blocks of transitional crust from the distal rifted margin. Geophysical profiles offshore eastern Taiwan show evidence for asymmetric crustal thickening, from 12-18 km, along the entire length of the Gagua Ridge suggesting the West Philippine Basin oceanic crust is underthust beneath that of the Huatung Basin. In this interpretation, the Gagua Ridge was the result of a failed subduction initiation event during the early Miocene that may have existed simultaneously and, for a short time, competed with the Manila subduction zone in accommodating convergence between the Eurasia and Philippine Sea plates. / text

The Pampean flat slab subduction in west-central Argentina (latitude 30-33S) and the steeply dipping Northern Costa Rica subduction zone (latitude 9-11N) show significant along-trench variations in both the subducting and overriding plates. This dissertation contains the results of three seismological studies using broadband instruments conducted in these subduction zones, with the aim of understanding the structure of the lithosphere and the correlation between the variability observed in the downgoing and the overriding plates. In the Costa Rica region, by analyzing teleseismic receiver functions we investigate the variability in the hydration state of the subducting Cocos Plate and the nature of three distinct crustal terranes within the overriding Caribbean Plate: the Nicoya and Chorotega terranes that display an oceanic character, and the Mesquito Terrane, which is more compatible with continental crust.In the Pampean region of Argentina, we apply a regional-scale double-difference tomography algorithm to earthquake data recorded by the SIEMBRA (2007-2009) and ESP (2008-2010) broadband seismic networks to obtain high-resolution images of the South America lithosphere. We find that most of the upper mantle has seismic properties consistent with a depleted lherzolite or harzburgite, with two anomalous regions above the flat slab: a higher Vp/Vs ratio anomaly consistent with up to 10% hydration of mantle peridotite and a localized lower Vp/Vs ratio anomaly consistent with orthopyroxene enrichment. In addition, we study the geometry and brittle deformation of the subducting Nazca Plate by determining high-quality earthquake locations, slab contours, and focal mechanisms. Our results suggest that the subduction of the incoming Juan Fernandez Ridge controls the slab geometry and that ridge buoyancy and slab pull are key factors in the deformation of the slab. The spatial distribution of the slab seismicity suggests variability in the hydration state of the subducting Nazca Plate and/or in strain due to slab bending. These observations support the hypothesis that the along-trench variability in bathymetric features and hydration state of the incoming plate has profound effects in the subducting slab geometry and the upper plate structure in both flat and steeply dipping subduction zones.

This thesis examines processes causing faulting in the North American crust in the northern Cascadia subduction zone. A combination of seismological methods, including source mechanism determination, stress inversion and earthquake relocations are used to determine where earthquakes occur and what forces influence faulting. We also determine if forces that control faulting can be monitored using seismic anisotropy. Investigating the processes that contribute to faulting in the crust is important because these earthquakes pose significant hazard to the large population centres in British Columbia and Washington State. To determine where crustal earthquakes occur we apply double-difference earthquake relocation techniques to events in the Fraser River Valley, British Columbia, and the San Juan Islands, Washington. This technique is used to identify "hidden" active structures using both catalogue and waveform cross-correlation data. Results have significantly reduced uncertainty over routine catalogue locations and show lineations in areas of clustered seismicity. In the Fraser River Valley these lineations or streaks appear to be hidden structures that do not disrupt near-surface sediments; however, in the San Juan Islands the identified lineation can be related to recently mapped surface expressions of faults. To determine forces that influence faulting we investigate the orientation and sources of stress using Bayesian inversion results from focal mechanism data. More than 600 focal mechanisms from crustal earthquakes are calculated to identify the dominant style of faulting and inverted to estimate the principal stress orientations and the stress ratio. Results indicate the maximum horizontal compressive stress (SHmax) orientation changes with distance from the subduction interface, from margin-normal along the coast to margin-parallel further inland. We relate the margin-normal stress direction to subduction-related strain rates due to the locked interface between the North America and Juan de Fuca plates just west of Vancouver Island. Further from the margin the plates are coupled less strongly and the margin-parallel SHmax relates to the northward push of the Oregon Block. Active faults around the region are generally thrust faults that strike east-west and might accommodate the margin- parallel compression. Finally, we consider whether crustal anisotropy can be used as a stress monitoring tool in this region. We identify sources and variations of crustal anisotropy using shear-wave splitting analysis on local crustal earthquakes. Results show spatial variations in fast directions, with margin-parallel fast directions at most stations and margin-perpendicular fast directions at stations in the northeast of the region. To use seismic anisotropy as a stress indicator requires identifying which stations are primarily in uenced by stress. We determine the source of anisotropy at each station by comparing fast directions from shear-wave splitting results to the SHmax orientation. Most stations show agreement between these directions suggesting that anisotropy is stress-related. These stations are further analysed for temporal variations and show variation that could be associated with earthquakes (ML 3{5) and episodic tremor and slip events. The combination of earthquake relocations, source mechanisms, stress and anisotropy is unique and provides a better understanding of faulting and stress in the crust of northern Cascadia. / Graduate

Thesis (M.S.)--Humboldt State University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-65). Also available via the Internet.

Great (Mw >8.5) earthquakes occur over long temporal intervals that extend beyond current historical (written and oral) records along most subduction zone coastlines often leading to the underestimation of magnitude, recurrence, and spatial extent of these events. Paleoseismic studies target low energy depositional environments that record primary and secondary evidence of earthquake occurrence within the coastal stratigraphy over much longer temporal scale, thus improving our understanding of the behavior of subduction zone earthquakes. Diatoms preserved within coastal stratigraphic records are sensitive to earthquake-induced environmental change and are useful bioindicators in paloesiesmology studies. The two studies in this dissertation employ diatoms to create novel approaches to investigate behavior and recurrence of earthquakes along two subductions zones: Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone and the Cascadia subduction zone. In these chapters we use diatoms to explore 1) the potential for combined slip along the Patton Bay splay fault system and the eastern Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone within Prince William Sound, Alaska, and 2) lacustrine turbidite source mechanisms in Ozette Lake, Washington to potentially improve the spatial and temporal earthquake record for the northern Cascadia subduction zone. This work has implications for improving our earthquake chronologies along subduction zone coastlines and making important contributions to coastal hazards assessments. / Doctor of Philosophy / Subduction zones are capable of producing great (>Mw 8.5) earthquakes with accompanying tsunamis that can impact nearby coastlines with devastating force. Great earthquakes occur over long timescales (thousands of years) and are often not captured in short historical records, leaving questions about the recurrence, behavior, and range of potential future earthquakes along these boundaries. Paleoseismology, the study of earthquake history, employs methods that use the earthquake-induced environmental changes along subduction zone coastlines to provide long-term records of earthquake occurrence. Diatoms, a type of siliceous microalgae entrained in coastal sediments, react to changes in pH, salinity, water depth, and sediment type, and are important indicators of environmental change that can be used to expand our understanding of earthquake behavior. This dissertation uses diatoms in two projects that explore the earthquake history along the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone and the Cascadia subduction zone. First, we determine that secondary faults, called splay faults, in Prince William Sound are likely triggered only by slip along the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone, suggesting that combined slip has occurred during four of the eight total megathrust earthquakes in the last ~4,200 years. Second, we investigate the sediment origins of the youngest six deposits (turbidites) in Ozette Lake, linking them to diatoms located on the subaqueous delta and shallow lake surfaces, leading us to infer the source is likely earthquake-induced slope failure. Both projects help to expand our understanding of subduction zone earthquake behavior, and will help inform future hazards assessments for coastal communities.

O nitrogênio compõe cerca de 78% da massa da atmosfera terrestre e é um elemento imprescindível para a construção e manutenção da vida. Porém a abundância de nitrogênio atmosférico da Terra é anômala quando comparada a dos demais planetas telúricos. Isso significa que ou a acresção para esses planetas foi diferente (o que é pouco provável) ou a Terra possui alguma característica única que permita a existência de grandes volumes de nitrogênio em sua atmosfera. A tectônica de placas poderia ser essa característica, uma vez que propicia uma conexão direta entre o manto e superfície (ao mesmo tempo em que material é expelido do manto para a superfície, material é transportado da superfície para o manto). Nesse contexto, este trabalho objetiva compreender, através de simulações em laboratório, o papel das zonas de subducção no transporte global do nitrogênio. Para tal, submeteu-se um material que simula sedimentos pelágicos (esmectitas dioctaédricas) dopado com amônio (NH4-esmectita) a diversas condições de pressão e temperatura: desde pressão ambiente até 7.7 GPa (equivalente a ~270 km de profundidade) e com temperaturas variando entre 200oC e 700oC. Os experimentos foram realizados em uma prensa hidráulica de 1000 tonf com câmaras de perfil toroidal e em um forno de alta temperatura e foram analisados por difração de raios X (DRX), espectroscopia infravermelho por Transformada de Fourier (FTIR) e por imageamento SE-MEV-EDS Além disso, o material inicial foi caracterizado por análise térmica diferencial (DTA) e análise química CHN. Os resultados mostram que as transformações de fase sofridas pela NH4-esmectita agem no sentido de preservar o amônio na estrutura durante o processo de subducção. Também foram observadas fases de pressões mais elevadas capazes de conter amônio (buddingtonita, a 7.7 GPa). Percebeu-se que o regime termal da subducção é fundamental para a eficiência do transporte de nitrogênio, visto que em subducções quentes (litosferas oceânicas jovens que subductam em baixo ângulo) ocorre a fusão parcial do material com liberação de parte do amônio em pressões relativamente baixas (~1 GPa, equivalente a 30 km de profundidade). Por outro lado, em subducções frias (litosferas oceânicas antigas que subductam em alto ângulo) o material aprisiona de forma eficiente o nitrogênio até ~270 km de profundidade (7.7 GPa). / Nitrogen composes around 78 wt% of Earth’s atmosphere and is a vital element for the construction and maintenance of life. However, the abundance of Earth’s atmospheric nitrogen is anomalous when compared to the one from other inner planets. This means that or accretion for these planets was different (which is unlikely) or Earth possesses a unique feature that allows the existence of large volumes of nitrogen in its atmosphere. Plate tectonics could be this feature, since it propitiates a direct connection between mantle and surface (at the same time that material is expelled by the mantle in to the surface, material is transported from the surface in to the mantle). In this context, these work objectives the understanding, through laboratoty simulations, the role of subduction zones in the global transport of nitrogen. For that, a material that simulates pelagic sediments (dioctahedral smectite) doped with ammonium (NH4-smectite) was subjected to a series of pressure and temperature conditions: from ambient pressure up to 7.7 GPa (equivalent to ~270 km depth) and temperatures varying between 200oC and 700oC. Experiments were performed in a 1000 tonf hydraulic press with coupled toroidal chambers and in a high temperature furnace and were analyzed by X ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and SE-SEM-EDS imaging. Additionally, the starting material was characterized by differential thermal analysis (DTA and CHN chemical analysis Results show that phase transformations suffered by NH4-smectite tend to preserve ammonium inside the mineral structure during subduction. Also, high-pressure ammonium bearing phases were observed (budingtonite at 7.7 GPa). It was perceived that the thermal setting of the subduction is fundamental for the efficiency of nitrogen’s transportation, as in hot subductions (young oceanic lithospheres subducting at low angle) partial melting with partial liberation of ammonium occur in relatively low pressures (~1 GPa, equivalent to 30 km depth). On the other hand, in cold subductions (ancient oceanic lithopsheres subducting at high angles) the material efficiently imprisons nitrogen until ~270 km depth (7.7 GPa).

Temporally and spatially clustered earthquake sequences along plate boundary zones indicate that patterns of seismicity may be influenced by earthquake-induced stress changes. Many studies invoke Coulomb stress change (CSC) as one possible geo-mechanical mechanism to explain stress interactions between earthquakes, their aftershocks, or large subsequent earthquakes; however, few address the statistical robustness of CSC triggering beyond spatial correlations. To address this, I evaluate the accuracy of CSC predictions in subduction zones where Earth’s largest earthquakes occur and generate voluminous and diverse aftershock sequences. A series of synthetic tests are implemented to investigate the accuracy of inferred stress changes predicted by slip distributions inverted from suites of geodetic observations (InSAR, GPS, seafloor geodetic observations) that are increasingly available for subduction zone earthquakes. Through these tests, I determine that inferred stress changes are accurately predicted at distances greater than a critical distance from modeled slip that is most dependent on earthquake magnitude and the proximity of observations to the earthquake itself. This methodology is then applied to the 2010 Mw 8.8 Maule, Chile earthquake sequence to identify aftershocks that may be used to perform statistically robust tests of CSC triggering; however, only 13 aftershocks from a population of 475 events occurred where confidence in CSC predictions is deemed to be high. The inferred CSC for these events exhibit large uncertainties owing to nodal plane uncertainties assigned to the aftershock mechanisms. Additionally, tests of multiple published slip distributions result in inconsistent stress change predictions resolved for the 13 candidate aftershocks. While these results suggest that CSC imparted by subduction megathrust earthquakes largely cannot be resolved with slip distributions inverted from terrestrial geodetic observations alone, the synthetic tests suggest that dramatic improvements can be made through the inclusion of near-source geodetic observations from seafloor geodetic networks. Furthermore, CSC uncertainties will likely improve with detailed earthquake moment tensor catalogs generated from dense regional seismic networks.

Oxygen isotopes and major and trace element geochemistry have been used to evaluate the geochemical and tectonic history of a Franciscan hornblende-amphibolite and a eclogite block from Ring Mountain, Tiburon and three eclogite/blueschist blocks from Jenner Beach, California, all blocks have experienced varying amounts of retrogression. Relative to the presumed basaltic protolith, enrichments in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) indicate interaction with sediment derived fluids in the retrograde eclogite and retrograde blueschist samples and high Mg, Cr, and Ni in actinolite rind indicate interaction with ultramafic rock. The [delta]¹⁸O values of chlorite from the Ring Mountain hornblende-amphibolite and the eclogite block have a narrow range of [delta]¹⁸O values (+7.7-8.2%₀, n=8) and actinolite from actinolite rind on the eclogite block from Ring Mountain and the blueschist/eclogite blocks from Jenner Beach are (+7.8-8.5%₀, n=5). Chlorite-actinolite geothermometry yields temperatures of 200-280°C for actinolite rind formation. Additionally, the [delta]¹⁸O values of both chlorite and actinolite at these temperatures indicates equilibrium with the measured value of Tiburon serpentinites, (7.6 to 8.1%₀, n = 3 Wenner and Taylor, 1974). Oxygen isotope analyses of garnet mineral separates from the eclogite and hornblende-amphibolite from Ring Mountain have [delta]¹⁸O values of +6.8±0.3%₀ (n=7), and +8.2±0.2%₀ (n=7), respectively. Garnets from the three eclogite/blueschist blocks at Jenner Beach have a [delta]¹⁸O value of +9.8±0.7%₀, (n=23). The difference in [delta]¹⁸O values of garnets between the high-grade blocks is likely due to in situ hydrothermal alteration of the seafloor basalt prior to subduction. The geochemical trends can be explained by a model in which during the early stages of subduction pieces of altered oceanic crust are detached from the downgoing slab and incorporated into the mantle wedge soon after reaching peak eclogite or amphibolite facies conditions. As subduction continues, the hanging wall cools and fluids released from subducted sediments infiltrate the overlying mantle wedge. As the blocks cool they develop a retrograde blueschist facies overprint under relatively static conditions. With cooling of the hanging wall and infiltration of sedimentary fluids, serpentinization induces reaction between the blocks and surrounding mantle wedge and Mg-rich actinolite rind is formed. The blocks are then plucked from the mantle wedge and incorporated into the subduction channel where they flow back to the surface via corner flow. / text

O nitrogênio compõe cerca de 78% da massa da atmosfera terrestre e é um elemento imprescindível para a construção e manutenção da vida. Porém a abundância de nitrogênio atmosférico da Terra é anômala quando comparada a dos demais planetas telúricos. Isso significa que ou a acresção para esses planetas foi diferente (o que é pouco provável) ou a Terra possui alguma característica única que permita a existência de grandes volumes de nitrogênio em sua atmosfera. A tectônica de placas poderia ser essa característica, uma vez que propicia uma conexão direta entre o manto e superfície (ao mesmo tempo em que material é expelido do manto para a superfície, material é transportado da superfície para o manto). Nesse contexto, este trabalho objetiva compreender, através de simulações em laboratório, o papel das zonas de subducção no transporte global do nitrogênio. Para tal, submeteu-se um material que simula sedimentos pelágicos (esmectitas dioctaédricas) dopado com amônio (NH4-esmectita) a diversas condições de pressão e temperatura: desde pressão ambiente até 7.7 GPa (equivalente a ~270 km de profundidade) e com temperaturas variando entre 200oC e 700oC. Os experimentos foram realizados em uma prensa hidráulica de 1000 tonf com câmaras de perfil toroidal e em um forno de alta temperatura e foram analisados por difração de raios X (DRX), espectroscopia infravermelho por Transformada de Fourier (FTIR) e por imageamento SE-MEV-EDS Além disso, o material inicial foi caracterizado por análise térmica diferencial (DTA) e análise química CHN. Os resultados mostram que as transformações de fase sofridas pela NH4-esmectita agem no sentido de preservar o amônio na estrutura durante o processo de subducção. Também foram observadas fases de pressões mais elevadas capazes de conter amônio (buddingtonita, a 7.7 GPa). Percebeu-se que o regime termal da subducção é fundamental para a eficiência do transporte de nitrogênio, visto que em subducções quentes (litosferas oceânicas jovens que subductam em baixo ângulo) ocorre a fusão parcial do material com liberação de parte do amônio em pressões relativamente baixas (~1 GPa, equivalente a 30 km de profundidade). Por outro lado, em subducções frias (litosferas oceânicas antigas que subductam em alto ângulo) o material aprisiona de forma eficiente o nitrogênio até ~270 km de profundidade (7.7 GPa). / Nitrogen composes around 78 wt% of Earth’s atmosphere and is a vital element for the construction and maintenance of life. However, the abundance of Earth’s atmospheric nitrogen is anomalous when compared to the one from other inner planets. This means that or accretion for these planets was different (which is unlikely) or Earth possesses a unique feature that allows the existence of large volumes of nitrogen in its atmosphere. Plate tectonics could be this feature, since it propitiates a direct connection between mantle and surface (at the same time that material is expelled by the mantle in to the surface, material is transported from the surface in to the mantle). In this context, these work objectives the understanding, through laboratoty simulations, the role of subduction zones in the global transport of nitrogen. For that, a material that simulates pelagic sediments (dioctahedral smectite) doped with ammonium (NH4-smectite) was subjected to a series of pressure and temperature conditions: from ambient pressure up to 7.7 GPa (equivalent to ~270 km depth) and temperatures varying between 200oC and 700oC. Experiments were performed in a 1000 tonf hydraulic press with coupled toroidal chambers and in a high temperature furnace and were analyzed by X ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and SE-SEM-EDS imaging. Additionally, the starting material was characterized by differential thermal analysis (DTA and CHN chemical analysis Results show that phase transformations suffered by NH4-smectite tend to preserve ammonium inside the mineral structure during subduction. Also, high-pressure ammonium bearing phases were observed (budingtonite at 7.7 GPa). It was perceived that the thermal setting of the subduction is fundamental for the efficiency of nitrogen’s transportation, as in hot subductions (young oceanic lithospheres subducting at low angle) partial melting with partial liberation of ammonium occur in relatively low pressures (~1 GPa, equivalent to 30 km depth). On the other hand, in cold subductions (ancient oceanic lithopsheres subducting at high angles) the material efficiently imprisons nitrogen until ~270 km depth (7.7 GPa).

O nitrogênio compõe cerca de 78% da massa da atmosfera terrestre e é um elemento imprescindível para a construção e manutenção da vida. Porém a abundância de nitrogênio atmosférico da Terra é anômala quando comparada a dos demais planetas telúricos. Isso significa que ou a acresção para esses planetas foi diferente (o que é pouco provável) ou a Terra possui alguma característica única que permita a existência de grandes volumes de nitrogênio em sua atmosfera. A tectônica de placas poderia ser essa característica, uma vez que propicia uma conexão direta entre o manto e superfície (ao mesmo tempo em que material é expelido do manto para a superfície, material é transportado da superfície para o manto). Nesse contexto, este trabalho objetiva compreender, através de simulações em laboratório, o papel das zonas de subducção no transporte global do nitrogênio. Para tal, submeteu-se um material que simula sedimentos pelágicos (esmectitas dioctaédricas) dopado com amônio (NH4-esmectita) a diversas condições de pressão e temperatura: desde pressão ambiente até 7.7 GPa (equivalente a ~270 km de profundidade) e com temperaturas variando entre 200oC e 700oC. Os experimentos foram realizados em uma prensa hidráulica de 1000 tonf com câmaras de perfil toroidal e em um forno de alta temperatura e foram analisados por difração de raios X (DRX), espectroscopia infravermelho por Transformada de Fourier (FTIR) e por imageamento SE-MEV-EDS Além disso, o material inicial foi caracterizado por análise térmica diferencial (DTA) e análise química CHN. Os resultados mostram que as transformações de fase sofridas pela NH4-esmectita agem no sentido de preservar o amônio na estrutura durante o processo de subducção. Também foram observadas fases de pressões mais elevadas capazes de conter amônio (buddingtonita, a 7.7 GPa). Percebeu-se que o regime termal da subducção é fundamental para a eficiência do transporte de nitrogênio, visto que em subducções quentes (litosferas oceânicas jovens que subductam em baixo ângulo) ocorre a fusão parcial do material com liberação de parte do amônio em pressões relativamente baixas (~1 GPa, equivalente a 30 km de profundidade). Por outro lado, em subducções frias (litosferas oceânicas antigas que subductam em alto ângulo) o material aprisiona de forma eficiente o nitrogênio até ~270 km de profundidade (7.7 GPa). / Nitrogen composes around 78 wt% of Earth’s atmosphere and is a vital element for the construction and maintenance of life. However, the abundance of Earth’s atmospheric nitrogen is anomalous when compared to the one from other inner planets. This means that or accretion for these planets was different (which is unlikely) or Earth possesses a unique feature that allows the existence of large volumes of nitrogen in its atmosphere. Plate tectonics could be this feature, since it propitiates a direct connection between mantle and surface (at the same time that material is expelled by the mantle in to the surface, material is transported from the surface in to the mantle). In this context, these work objectives the understanding, through laboratoty simulations, the role of subduction zones in the global transport of nitrogen. For that, a material that simulates pelagic sediments (dioctahedral smectite) doped with ammonium (NH4-smectite) was subjected to a series of pressure and temperature conditions: from ambient pressure up to 7.7 GPa (equivalent to ~270 km depth) and temperatures varying between 200oC and 700oC. Experiments were performed in a 1000 tonf hydraulic press with coupled toroidal chambers and in a high temperature furnace and were analyzed by X ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and SE-SEM-EDS imaging. Additionally, the starting material was characterized by differential thermal analysis (DTA and CHN chemical analysis Results show that phase transformations suffered by NH4-smectite tend to preserve ammonium inside the mineral structure during subduction. Also, high-pressure ammonium bearing phases were observed (budingtonite at 7.7 GPa). It was perceived that the thermal setting of the subduction is fundamental for the efficiency of nitrogen’s transportation, as in hot subductions (young oceanic lithospheres subducting at low angle) partial melting with partial liberation of ammonium occur in relatively low pressures (~1 GPa, equivalent to 30 km depth). On the other hand, in cold subductions (ancient oceanic lithopsheres subducting at high angles) the material efficiently imprisons nitrogen until ~270 km depth (7.7 GPa).