Open AccessPhase boundaries in finite amplitude mantle convection
Author(s) -
Christensen Ulrich
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1982.tb04911.x
Subject(s) - convection , geology , mantle (geology) , geophysics , buoyancy , mantle convection , transition zone , exothermic reaction , mechanics , endothermic process , phase transition , thermodynamics , lithosphere , physics , chemistry , seismology , tectonics , organic chemistry , adsorption
Summary. Phase boundaries are included in dynamical finite element models of mantle convection. They are represented by point chains which act as additional sources of buoyancy forces when distorted, and as additional source or sink of heat. The influence of the exothermic olivine‐spinel transition is studied in both shallow and deep convection models. The flow is only slightly enhanced by the transition. The increase of temperature due to latent heat release is step‐like in the deep model, in the case of shallow convection it is more diffuse. Other quantities like ocean‐floor topography, gravity anomalies, and stress distribution are no more than moderately affected. In a further investigation the effect of spinel post‐spinel transition, whether endothermic or exothermic, on deep convection is examined. The effect on the flow is negligibly small in both cases.