AN ASSESSMENT OF ALONG-STRIKE FLUID AND HEAT-TRANSPORT WITHIN THE BARBADOS RIDGE ACCRETIONARY COMPLEX - RESULTS OF PRELIMINARY MODELING

In this investigation, we examined the effects of the three-dimensiona l geometry of the Barbados Ridge accretionary complex on decollement z one fluid flow and thermal transport. Modeling results indicate that f luid preferentially escapes the decollement zone through the thin sedi ment layer north of the Tiburon Rise. This ''drain'' produces a northe rly (along-strike) component of fluid now in the vicinity of the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) and Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) transect. Depending on pore-pressure ratios on the arcward boundary of the comp lex, the along-strike component can reach half the magnitude of the co mponent perpendicular to the deformation front. Thermal advection alon g oblique now paths would result in significantly higher decollement t emperatures at the deformation front than indicated by cross-sectional models constructed perpendicular to the deformation front.