The influence of the boundary conditions and rotation on convection in the Earth's mantle

McKenzie, D. P. (1968) The influence of the boundary conditions and rotation on convection in the Earth's mantle. Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, 15. pp. 457-500. ISSN 0016-8009 DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.1968.tb00203.x

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

The external nonhydrostatic gravity field must be maintained by flow within the mantle. An analysis of axisymmetric poloidal circulation in a rotating compressible sphere shows it to be more important than was previously believed. However, such flow is probably unable to produce the observed nonhydrostatic equatorial bulge. The basic equations are nonlinear, but can be solved if the viscosity is sufficiently large. The conditions which must be satisfied before this approximation is valid are examined in some detail because of their relevance to convection in the mantle. The horizontal temperature differences between oceans and continents must also drive convection currents, though such flow can only be of local importance at present. Two-dimensional convection driven by horizontal temperature variations can successfully account for most of the phenomena which are believed to be the surface expressions of flow in the mantle. The only exception is the gravity anomaly over the rising current, which is positive in the model. Though this linear theory is not self consistent, it does show that convection of heat is the only important nonlinear term. Further understanding of the problem will require numerical analysis.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	NIL AREP
Subjects:	02 - Geodynamics, Geophysics and Tectonics
Divisions:	02 - Geodynamics, Geophysics and Tectonics
Journal or Publication Title:	Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume:	15
Page Range:	pp. 457-500
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.1968.tb00203.x
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	21 May 2015 15:36
Last Modified:	21 May 2015 15:36
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/3304

Actions (login required)

View Item