Stress fields and tectonic motions induced by time-varying density anomalies in the lithosphere

We explore the extent to which a viscoelastic rheology of the lithosphere could affect the deviatoric stress and vertical deformation driven by deep seated, time-dependent density anomalies within the lithosphere. These sources can be associated with fast density instabilities of thermal, chemical or tectonic origin. In particular, we focus on the stress transfer from the ductile lower lithosphere to the elastic crust. The model is radially stratified and employs the Maxwell rheology