Research Article

Crustal-Scale Signatures of Steady-State Thermal Inheritance: Insights from the South China Sea

Volume 1, Issue 1, Published on 2026-02-20
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5070/F3.50821

Abstract:

Long-lived lateral variations in radiogenic heat production create persistent thermal heterogeneities that shape continental lithosphere over geological timescales. We introduce a steady-state concept of thermal inheritance, linking these variations to crustal-scale strain localization and tectonic architecture.
Using numerical models, we explore both crustal- and lithospheric-scale consequences of heterogeneous heat production. A key finding is that lateral variations in heat production leave a distinct crustal-scale tectonic signature, controlling patterns of strain localization. The South China Sea serves as a proof-of-concept: the segmented, oblique extension observed there aligns with zones of mechanically weaker crust, reflecting the underlying inherited thermal heterogeneity.
These results highlight that crustal-scale tectonic features can emerge from steady-state thermal conditions, independently of transient anomalies. They provide a quantitative framework linking inherited thermal structure to observable deformation patterns. More broadly, our study suggests that laterally heterogeneous heat production offers a physically motivated alternative to traditional exponential-decay models, better capturing the spatial complexity and persistence of lithospheric thermal structure.
By emphasizing the crustal imprint of thermal inheritance, we demonstrate that radiogenic heat variations are a fundamental control on strain localization and tectonic segmentation. This approach opens a new perspective on how long-lived thermal heterogeneities shape continental deformation and the architecture of lithospheric structures over hundreds of millions of years.

Cite this article as:

Le Pourhiet, L., Pubellier, M., Jourdon, A., & Francois, T. (2026). Crustal-Scale Signatures of Steady-State Thermal Inheritance: Insights from the South China Sea. Geodynamica, 1(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.5070/F3.50821