Oceanic Upper Mantle Dynamics

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This project will continue modeling studies of the dynamics of flow in the oceanic upper mantle. The emphasis ofthese studies will be shifted to intraplate, off-axis processes, exploring mechanisms of oceanic matle dynamics that can explain intraplate volcanism and tectonics. Numerical and labratory experiments will be carried out. Initially, three mechanisms will be explored; convective instability, tensile cracks in the lithosphere, and viscous fingering of low-viscosity mantle into higher viscosity mantle during return flow.