The accuracy of some lithospheric bending parameters

A procedure is described for iterative least‐squares inference of bending parameters from lithospheric deflection profiles. The method is applied to several bathymetric profiles seaward of subduction zones and used to study the accuracy with which these parameters and related ones such as plate thickness and moment‐curvature relations can be determined. The presence of typical bathymetric undulations, particularly at wavelengths of the order of the flexural wavelength and greater, prevents the inference of effective elastic thickness from single profile data to better than ±12 km (2 σ). Mixing of elastic and inelastic model estimates of effective thickness further increases scatter. It is found that the sensitivity of inferred bending moments on the outer trench wall to typical uncertainties of regional bathymetric slope is substantial and inferred estimates of inelastic behaviour need to be interpreted with caution.