{
  "abstract": "We address a long-standing paradox in plate tectonics concerning the thermodynamics of its very origin: What supplies the thermal energy for the intense island-arc volcanism at the subduction zones, the supposedly cool end of the mantle convection? We surmise a first-principle physics model tracking the gravitational energy (Eg)-heat conversion within the mantle convection. The scenario points to a great amount of Eg release of ~10 TW induced by the thrust-faulting earthquakes that occur predominantly in the upper mantle at the subduction zones. Generally ~1000 times greater than the seismic energy release or nearly a quarter of the total terrestrial heat flow, this Eg release, upon conversion into heat in the irreversible convection process, supplies amply for the island-arc volcanism. Meanwhile similar but opposite and less vigorous Eg gains at ~2 TW occur at the diverging plate boundaries via the normal-faulting earthquakes. This model resolves the said paradox, and more importantly provides a new paradigm pointing to an active role of seismicity in the plate tectonic energetics and evolution of the convecting mantle.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2609.18036",
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Benjamin F. Chao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sheng-An Shih"
    },
    {
      "name": "Frederic Deschamps"
    },
    {
      "name": "Eh Tan"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/47nzd2evhq5wv.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2609.18036",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "47nzd2evhq5wv",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.18036",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-SA 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.geo-ph"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1908|earthquake and tectonic studies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213523916",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2609.18036",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-16",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/47nzd2evhq5wv.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:01Z",
      "native_id": "2609.18036",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.18036"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.geo-ph",
      "subfield": "geophysics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Gravitational energy released when Earth quakes: Heat supply for island-arc volcanism",
  "title_text": "Gravitational energy released when Earth quakes: Heat supply for island-arc volcanism",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:01Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/47nzd2evhq5wv",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}