Open AccessOn A Particular Solution of the Non‐Linear Liouville Equations
Author(s) -
Spada Giorgio,
Sabadini Roberto,
Ricard Yanick
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
geophysical journal international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0956-540X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1993.tb03927.x
Subject(s) - stratification (seeds) , discontinuity (linguistics) , mantle (geology) , geology , rheology , viscoelasticity , polar motion , convection , geophysics , polar , planet , mantle convection , earth's rotation , mathematical analysis , mathematics , mechanics , physics , thermodynamics , geodesy , seismology , tectonics , biology , germination , seed dormancy , botany , astronomy , dormancy , astrophysics , subduction
SUMMARY The rotational behaviour of a stratified viscoelastic planet is analysed by means of a quasi‐analytical method. Our approach is particularly appropriate to study the long‐term polar wander induced by internal loads, and in particular to study the effects due to time‐dependent mantle convection. We focus on a simple explicit solution of the Liouville non‐linear equations, in order to establish the relationships between internal rheological constitution of the planet and polar motion. Both the rate and the direction of polar wander are found to be extremely sensitive to the mantle stratification and in particular to the nature of the 670km depth seismic discontinuity.