Models of Mantle Flow and Convection

小行星9706210 拟议的研究是研究地幔中的流动和热对流。 这项工作将涉及一个球形地球模型的热对流计算，该模型结合了岩石圈板块的几何形状和运动，并受到地幔不均匀性地震层析成像模型的约束。 该模型还考虑了150My以来板块几何形状和运动的变化，以及内部非均匀性和热场的演化。这项工作扩展了最近的地幔流模型，预测地幔柱和热点的运动，并解决了一些问题与板块运动。 该模型还预测了旋转轴的运动，这与古地磁观测极移。 目前的工作将把热对流效应纳入模型。 这将构成一个自洽的动力学调查羽，热点，大地水准面，岩石圈板块的力量。 ***

9706210 O'Connell The proposed research is to study flow and thermal convection in the mantle. The work will involve thermal convection calculations for a spherical Earth model that incorporates the geometry and motions of lithospheric plates and is constrained by seismic tomographic models of mantle heterogeneity. The changes of plate geometry and motions over the last 150 My, and the evolution of the internal heterogeneity and thermal fields are also included in the model. The work extends recent mantle flow models that predict the motions of mantle plumes and hot--spots and resolve some problems with plate motions. The models also predict the motion of the rotation axis, which compares well with paleomagnetic observations of polar wander. The current work will incorporate thermal convection effects into the models. This will constitute a self consistent dynamic investigation of plumes, hotspots, the geoid, and forces on lithospheric plates. ***