Welcome to the new version of CaltechAUTHORS. Login is currently restricted to library staff. If you notice any issues, please email coda@library.caltech.edu
Published February 25, 1993 | public
Journal Article

Effects of an Endothermic Phase-Transition at 670 km Depth in a Spherical Model of Convection in the Earth's Mantle

Abstract

Numerical modelling of mantle convection in a spherical shell with an endothermic phase change at 670 km depth reveals an inherently three-dimensional flow pattern, containing cylindrical plumes and linear sheets which behave differently in their ability to penetrate the phase change. The dynamics are dominated by accumulation of downwelling cold material above 670 km depth, resulting in frequent avalanches of upper-mantle material into the lower mantle. This process generates long-wavelength lateral heterogeneity, helping to resolve the contradiction between seismic tomographic observations and expectations from mantle convection simulations.

Additional Information

© 1993 Nature Publishing Group. Published 25 February 1993; Received 30 November 1992; accepted 29 January 1993. We thank W.R. Peltier, D.L. Anderson, D.A. Yuen, M. Gurnis, V. Solomatov and the participants of the Los Alamos Mantle Convection Workshop for discussions, U. Christensen for his review and H.X. Qian for photographic assistance. The Intel Touchstone Delta System was operated by the California Institute of Technology on behalf of the Concurrent Supercomputing Consortium. Access to this facility was provided by the Institute. P.T. thanks the NSF for financial support.

Additional details

Created:
August 22, 2023
Modified:
October 25, 2023