Articles | Volume 12, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-421-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-421-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
22 Feb 2021
Research article |
| 22 Feb 2021
| 22 Feb 2021
Timescales of chemical equilibrium between the convecting solid mantle and over- and underlying magma oceans
Daniela Paz Bolrão
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Maxim D. Ballmer
Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Adrien Morison
University of Exeter, Physics and Astronomy, EX4 4QL Exeter, UK
Antoine B. Rozel
Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Patrick Sanan
Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Stéphane Labrosse
Université de Lyon, ENSL, UCBL, Laboratoire LGLTPE, 15 parvis René Descartes, BP7000, 69342 Lyon, CEDEX 07, France
Paul J. Tackley
Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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Heat flux heterogeneities at the bottom of Earth's mantle plays an important role in the dynamic of the underlying core. Here, we study how these heterogeneities are affected by the global rotation of the Earth called true polar wander (TPW), which has to be considered to relate mantle dynamics with core dynamics. We find that TPW can greatly modify the large scales of the heat flux heterogeneities, notably at short time scales. We provide representative maps of these heterogeneities.
Fengping Pang, Jie Liao, Maxim D. Ballmer, and Lun Li
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Plume–ridge interaction is an intriguing geological process in plate tectonics. In this paper, we address the respective role of ridgeward vs. plate-drag plume flow in 2D thermomechanical models and compare the results with a compilation of observations on Earth. From a geophysical and geochemical analysis of Earth plumes and in combination with the model results, we propose that the absence of plumes interacting with ridges in the Pacific is largely caused by the presence of plate drag.
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We used the results of a global 3d mantle convection model showing plate-like behaviour to study the heat flux at the base of the mantle and the wandering of the pole due to masses displacement inside the Earth during mantle convection. Subduction zones and continents are driving this wandering by maintaining themselves close to the equator, which translates in high equatorial heat flux patches in the lower mantle. The dominant heat flux patterns can be related to surface plate-tectonics.
Antonio Manjón-Cabeza Córdoba and Maxim D. Ballmer
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The lower mantle extends from 660–2890 km depth, making up > 50 % of the Earth’s volume. Its composition and structure, however, remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigate several hypotheses with computer simulations of mantle convection that include different materials: recycled, dense rocks and ancient, strong rocks. We propose a new integrated style of mantle convection including
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streaksthat agrees with various observations of the deep Earth.
Antonio Manjón-Cabeza Córdoba and Maxim D. Ballmer
Solid Earth, 12, 613–632, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-613-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-613-2021, 2021
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The study of intraplate volcanism can inform us about underlying mantle dynamic processes and thermal and/or compositional anomalies. Here, we investigated numerical models of mantle flow and melting of edge-driven convection (EDC), a potential origin for intraplate volcanism. Our most important conclusion is that EDC can only produce moderate amounts of mantle melting. By itself, EDC is insufficient to support the formation of voluminous island-building volcanism over several millions of years.
Patrick Sanan, Dave A. May, Matthias Bollhöfer, and Olaf Schenk
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Mantle and lithospheric dynamics, elasticity, subsurface flow, and other fields involve solving indefinite linear systems. Tools include direct solvers (robust, easy to use, expensive) and advanced iterative solvers (complex, problem-sensitive). We show that a third option, ILDL preconditioners, requires less memory than direct solvers but is easy to use, as applied to 3D problems with parameter jumps. With included software, we hope to allow researchers to solve previously infeasible problems.
Jana Schierjott, Antoine Rozel, and Paul Tackley
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We investigate the size of mineral grains of Earth's rocks in computer models of the whole Earth. This is relevant because grain size affects the stiffness (large grains are stiffer) and deformation of the Earth's mantle. We see that mineral grains grow inside stable non-deforming regions of the Earth. However, these regions are less stiff than expected. On the other hand, we find that grain size diminishes during deformation events such as when surface material comes down into the Earth.
Robert I. Petersen, Dave R. Stegman, and Paul J. Tackley
Solid Earth, 8, 339–350, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-8-339-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-8-339-2017, 2017
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In this study we propose a dichotomy in the strength profile of tectonic plates. This apparent dichotomy suggests that plates at the Earth's surface are significantly stronger, by orders of magnitude, than the subducted slabs in the Earth's interior. Strong plates promote single-sided, Earth-like subduction. Once subducted, strong slabs transmit dynamic stresses and disrupt subduction. Slabs which are weakened do not disrupt subduction and furthermore exhibit a variety of observed morphologies.
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Short summary
We use numerical models to investigate the thermo-chemical evolution of a solid mantle during a magma ocean stage. When applied to the Earth, our study shows that the solid mantle and a magma ocean tend toward chemical equilibration before crystallisation of this magma ocean. Our findings suggest that a very strong chemical stratification of the solid mantle is unlikely to occur (as predicted by previous studies), which may explain why the Earth’s mantle is rather homogeneous in composition.
We use numerical models to investigate the thermo-chemical evolution of a solid mantle during a...
