@misc {AGU2012,
	title = {Numerical Models of the Scotia Sea With Globally Consistent Boundary and Initial Conditions},
	year = {2012},
	month = {December},
	abstract = {Compared to global mantle circulation models, regional mantle/lithosphere models are usually computationally cheaper. Therefore, regional models are more flexible with respect to the implemented model parameters as it is takes less time to test and replace different model parameters such as the spatial viscosity distribution. Another advantage of regional models is their potential to be run in higher resolution than global mantle circulation models. This may resolve small scale features in regional models that are not resolved in global models. However, local models require appropriate boundary and initial conditions, which have to be carefully chosen in order to be globally consistent. To circumvent this problem, we coupled the global mantle circulation code called TERRA with the regional lithosphere code named Gale, so that input from TERRA can be used to prescribe globally consistent temperature and velocity boundary and initial conditions for the model domain used in Gale. The developed workflow is very flexible and can be used for testing various regional tectonic problems. So far we have concentrated on models of the Scotia Sea, a region for which very few numerical models exist so far. It is known for its very complicated plate tectonic history that is mainly characterized by back-arc spreading processes and eastward subduction zone retreat. Our models are helpful to investigate and constrain different theories upon this history. For example, one long-lasting question concerns the onset of subduction of the South Sandwich slab and the influence of the induced mantle flow on the back-arc region. Another question regards the origin of the Central Scotia Sea as it was suggested to be a Miocene back-arc basin or a trapped Mesozoic plate fragment, respectively.},
	keywords = {Conference},
	author = {Nerlich, Rainer and Moder, Christoph and Clark, Stuart and Bunge, Hans-Peter}
}
