Vigorous Mantle Convection with a Very High Mid-mantle Viscosity

Abstract:

Two dimensional numerical models of mantle convection in a cylindrical shell are employed to investigate the impact of the very high viscosities in the lower mantle as proposed by Mitrovica and Forte (2004) and Steinberger and Calderwood (2006). Models are considered with and without mineral phase transitions. Our viscosity profiles are depth dependent with deep mantle viscosities increasing to values of 300 times the viscosity of the upper mantle and then decreasing dramatically on approaching the core-mantle boundary. Although phase transitions produce small secondary effects on the flow structure the main effect is that of the viscosity decrease near the core mantle boundary. Models with a high viscosity structure extending down to the core-mantle boundary are very sluggish with large aspect ratios, whereas models with a low viscosity just above the core mantle boundary overturn rapidly with aspect ratios close to unity. The latter models resemble uniformly low viscosity models despite the high viscosity region at mid-depths of the lower mantle.