Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Mingming Li
Summary: Mantle plumes are deflected by surrounding mantle flow, which carries information of deep mantle dynamics and is used to reconstruct absolute plate motions. This study compares two models for computing deep mantle flow and plume lateral motions and finds that backward models have certain inaccuracies that can be improved with better understanding of the deep mantle structure and dynamics.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
S. M. Langemeyer, J. P. Lowman, P. J. Tackley
Summary: More than two decades of research have made progress in generating plate-like surface behavior in models of mantle convection. The properties required for dynamic plates from mantle convection have been widely recognized and used in both 2-D and 3-D geometries. Studying the properties needed to obtain deep mantle features with LLSVP-like characteristics has become a topic of interest. The study focuses on discovering the properties that can produce a detached pair of 3-D features different from the ambient mantle.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Derek Neuharth, Eric Mittelstaedt
Summary: Research suggests that the rate of volcanic eruptions varies over time. Time-series analysis reveals that these rates change periodically over periods of tens of millions of years, indicating fluctuations in the production of molten material in underlying mantle plumes. Many hotspot volcano chains exhibit cycles of approximately 2 to 10 million years, which align with proposed mechanisms for changing near-surface plume flux and melting rate.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Yongming Wang, Mingming Li
Summary: The interaction between mantle plumes and lithosphere leads to various surface expressions, which are influenced by the properties of the plume and lithosphere. Different surface features have different sensitivities to these properties, with melt production being most affected by plume properties.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
S. Ghelichkhan, H-P Bunge, J. Oeser
Summary: The text discusses multiple first-order geological events during the Cenozoic that are likely related to mantle flow, and explores their correlation through high-resolution mantle flow retrodictions. The research shows that the mantle flow history is sensitive to present-day mantle state estimates and rheological properties of dynamic Earth models.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
A. G. Semple, A. Lenardic
Summary: The study suggests that the viscosity and flow wavelengths of the mantle are influenced by the non-Newtonian rheology of the upper mantle, resulting in different upper and lower mantle flow dynamics. Through coupled feedback loops, mantle viscosity, flow wavelengths, and the extent to which mantle drives plate motions are interconnected and impact each other.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Mechanics
Yadan Mao
Summary: This study provides a detailed analysis of continent motion and thermal-mechanic feedback by using a simplified model. The results reveal that plate motion characteristics and frequencies change with plate size, and these changes have significant implications for continent motion and geological evolution.
JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Juliane Dannberg, Rene Gassmoller, Ranpeng Li, Carolina Lithgow-Bertelloni, Lars Stixrude
Summary: Phase transitions play a crucial role in mantle convection, affecting the style and evolution of the mantle. Developing new numerical methods can more accurately model the influence of phase transitions on mantle convection, with the thickness of the phase transitions having a significant impact on the style of convection.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
A. J. P. Guelcher, G. J. Golabek, M. Thielmann, M. D. Ballmer, P. J. Tackley
Summary: The rheological properties of Earth's lower mantle play a crucial role in mantle dynamics and planetary evolution. This study presents a new strain-dependent rheology formulation for lower mantle materials, which has several direct and indirect effects on mantle convection. The results suggest that the new rheology formulation leads to changing dynamics of weakened plume channels, formation of larger thermochemical piles, and increased convective vigor. Furthermore, it may explain the discrepancy between expected and observed thermal anomalies of deep-seated mantle plumes on Earth.
GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Dapeng Zhao, Genti Toyokuni, Kenkichi Kurata
Summary: The study suggests that there are widespread low-Vp anomalies in the whole mantle beneath the Southeast Asian basalt province, possibly indicating the presence of a cluster of mantle plumes. The Hainan plume may be the strongest, but it is slowing down, and other mantle plumes beneath Cenozoic volcanoes in the region may be dying or already dead.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Arnab Roy, Dip Ghosh, Nibir Mandal
Summary: This paper investigates the influence of global mantle flow on the instability dynamics of deep-mantle primary plumes. The results show that the global flow acts as a dampening factor, reducing the growth rate of instabilities. Additionally, it is found that an increase in density contrast and viscosity ratio promotes the growth rate of plumes.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Masaki Ogawa
Summary: The study used a numerical model to show that the evolution of the Martian mantle through four stages led to changes in magmatism and surface environment, with the final stage resembling more of a thermal convection.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Frederic Deschamps
Summary: Convection is an efficient method for releasing heat from planetary interiors, with the efficiency influenced by properties such as the temperature dependence of thermal conductivity. Numerical simulations show that temperature-dependent conductivity can lead to changes in heat flux and stagnant lid thickness, affecting the thermal evolutions of large icy bodies. In planetary studies, considering the impact of temperature-dependent conductivity provides a more accurate description of thermal evolution processes within the planet.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Kyle Batra, Bradford Foley
Summary: Stagnant-lid convection, common among rocky planets and moons, is studied using numerical models to determine new scaling laws for convective heat flux, considering factors such as crustal layer thickness, density, Rayleigh number, and viscosity parameters. The models reveal two extreme behaviors: a 'thin crust limit' where convection is unaffected by the crust, and a 'thick crust limit' where the crustal thickness dictates lithospheric thickness and heat flux. The crustal thickness required for convection to enter the thick crust limit decreases with increasing mantle temperature and decreasing mantle viscosity, impacting mantle heat flux and potential elevation of mantle temperatures for up to billions of years.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
A. Taiwo, H-P Bunge, B. S. A. Schuberth, L. Colli, B. Vilacis
Summary: The ability to construct time-trajectories of mantle flow is crucial for studying time-dependent earth models and using geological constraints for mantle convection modeling. This study builds upon earlier work to overcome the butterfly effect and construct robust mantle flow trajectories by assimilating the surface velocity field from a known reference model.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Ravit Helled, Stephanie Werner, Caroline Dorn, Tristan Guillot, Masahiro Ikoma, Yuichi Ito, Mihkel Kama, Tim Lichtenberg, Yamila Miguel, Oliver Shorttle, Paul J. Tackley, Diana Valencia, Allona Vazan
Summary: The Ariel ESA mission aims to measure the atmospheric composition of exoplanets to better understand their bulk compositions. This will advance exoplanet characterisation and provide new insights into the nature of planets in our galaxy.
EXPERIMENTAL ASTRONOMY
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
S. M. Langemeyer, J. P. Lowman, P. J. Tackley
Summary: More than two decades of research have made progress in generating plate-like surface behavior in models of mantle convection. The properties required for dynamic plates from mantle convection have been widely recognized and used in both 2-D and 3-D geometries. Studying the properties needed to obtain deep mantle features with LLSVP-like characteristics has become a topic of interest. The study focuses on discovering the properties that can produce a detached pair of 3-D features different from the ambient mantle.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yang Li, Frederic Deschamps, Zhidong Shi, Joshua M. Guerrero, Wen-Pin Hsieh, Liang Zhao, Paul J. Tackley
Summary: The composition-dependent thermal conductivity of primordial dense material has a secondary role in the long-term evolution of Earth's mantle, but if the material is enriched in heat-producing elements, it slightly affects the height and coverage of these reservoirs.
EARTH PLANETS AND SPACE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chuan-Zhou Liu, Henry J. B. Dick, Ross N. Mitchell, Wu Wei, Zhen-Yu Zhang, Albrecht W. Hofmann, Jian-Feng Yang, Yang Li
Summary: This study reveals the preservation of ancient mantle lithosphere information in abyssal peridotites and unexpected connection between young oceanic and ancient continental lithosphere, indicating a significant compositional recycling process.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Maria Koroni, Anselme Borgeaud, Andreas Fichtner, Frederic Deschamps
Summary: The core-mantle boundary (CMB) is a significant internal boundary in the Earth that strongly influences its dynamics. However, there is currently a lack of agreement between models of CMB topographic variations. This study analyzes seismic waves interacting with the CMB to understand the difficulties in inferring CMB topography and provides sensitivity kernels to explain the behavior of measured traveltimes.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Jianfeng Yang, Liang Zhao, Yang Li
Summary: Fluids associated with subducting slabs play a crucial role in regulating water discharge, arc magmatism, and intermediate-depth earthquakes. This study presents high-resolution numerical models that show the impact of plastic weakening and friction coefficient on fault patterns, while plate age and elasticity have minimal influence. Brittle bending faults facilitate seawater infiltrating into subducting slabs, explaining sporadic lower plane earthquakes.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Jun Su, Christine Houser, John W. Hernlund, Frederic Deschamps
Summary: Seismic tomography models provide information on the distribution and magnitude of P- and S-wave velocity variations in the Earth's mantle. The presence of large low shear velocity provinces (LLSVPs) beneath the Pacific and Africa has important implications for their origin. However, the absence of these features in P-wave velocity models may be due to lower resolution compared to S-wave velocity models. By applying tomographic filters and analyzing thermochemical mantle convection models, it is revealed that distinct phase and/or composition can be differentiated from cases where only temperature varies. A new proxy called 'large uncorrelated modulus provinces' (LUMPs) is developed to explore uncorrelated P- and S-wave velocity anomalies.
GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Laetitia Lebec, Stephane Labrosse, Adrien Morison, Paul J. Tackley
Summary: The presence of a high-pressure ice layer between the silicate core and the liquid ocean in large icy moons and ocean worlds has been considered as a hindrance to habitability. However, recent studies have challenged this view and demonstrated the possibility of nutrient transfer under specific conditions. Our study takes into account the dynamical implications of the phase equilibrium at the ice-ocean interface, which allows exchanges between the high-pressure ice layer and the liquid ocean. We propose a scaling relationship between the bottom temperature, top vertical velocity, and Rayleigh number, considering different values of a dimensionless parameter phi.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Harry A. Ballantyne, Martin Jutzi, Gregor J. Golabek, Lokesh Mishra, Kar Wai Cheng, Antoine B. Rozel, Paul J. Tackley
Summary: A giant impact is suggested as the explanation for the Martian Dichotomy, with recent studies favoring a hybrid origin caused by impact-induced crust-production. This study uses a large suite of impact simulations and a sophisticated geophysical scheme to investigate the feasibility of a giant impact on either hemisphere of Mars. The results suggest that a cannonical Borealis-forming impact is not possible, but instead favor an impact and subsequent localised magma ocean in the southern hemisphere that results in a thicker crust than the north.
Review
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Liang Zhao, Zhengtang Guo, Huaiyu Yuan, Xinxin Wang, Hao Shen, Jianfeng Yang, Baolu Sun, Ning Tan, Hui Zhang, Yonggang Liu, Yang Li, Jiamin Wang, Weiqiang Ji, Rixiang Zhu
Summary: Plate tectonics play a vital role in regulating atmospheric CO2 concentration over geological timescales. Current research on tectonic CO2 dynamics requires the development of models that include four modules: simulating carbon processes, calculating CO2 fluxes, reconstructing carbon cycling within tectonic scenarios, and comparing with atmospheric CO2 history data. The primary technical challenge lies in simulating the complex carbon dynamics across different scales in time and space.
SCIENCE CHINA-EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
G. Choblet, F. Deschamps, H. Amit, M. Lasbleis
Summary: The heat flux pattern at Earth's core-mantle boundary has a significant impact on core dynamics, but the traditional linear approximation method has biases. We analyze the influence of thermochemical mantle on seismic velocities and derive a formalism to infer the CMB heat flux from seismic shear velocity anomalies. Applying this formalism provides better fits than the commonly used linear fits.
PHYSICS OF THE EARTH AND PLANETARY INTERIORS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Joshua Martin Guerrero, Frederic Deschamps, Yang Li, Wen-Pin Hsieh, Paul James Tackley
Summary: The effect of heterogeneous thermal conductivity on the stability of primordial material reservoirs in the mantle is examined using 2D spherical annulus geometry simulations. The depth-dependent profiles of mantle conductivity in numerical models often mask the effects of temperature and composition dependencies. By considering these dependencies and the reduction in thermochemical pile conductivity, it is found that a depth-dependent ratio of at least 9 is needed for stable primordial reservoirs. When the lowermost mantle's mean conductivity is greater than twice the surface conductivity, reservoirs can remain stable for very long periods of time.