The Formation of Long-wavelength Mantle Structure and Its Relationship to Supercontinent Cycles and True Polar Wander

超大陆Rodinia和Pangea的地震层析成像和重建研究表明，至少在最后1Ga，地球的地幔对流以很长波长的对流为主。最近对古地磁的研究还表明，可能与罗迪尼亚超大陆有关的真极移(TPW)事件。然而，无论是地幔对流的长波平台的形成过程，还是超大陆过程的形成过程，都不是很清楚。拟议的工作旨在了解地幔对流的长波平台的基本物理及其与包括TPW在内的超大陆过程的关系。我们建议建立具有真实流变学和多大陆块体的三维球状地幔对流模式，以确定对地幔对流的长波平台和超大陆组装和解体的循环过程的控制。这项研究将支持一名博士水平的研究生，并包括与Z-X博士的国际合作。李先生来自西澳大利亚大学。

Studies of seismic tomography and reconstruction of supercontinents Rodinia and Pangea indicate that the Earth's mantle convection is predominated at very long wavelengths at least in the last 1 Ga. Recent studies on paleomagnetism also suggest possible true polar wander (TPW) events associated with Rodinia supercontinent. However, neither the formation process for long-wavelength platforms of mantle convection nor supercontinent process is well understood. The proposed work seeks to understand the underlying physics for long-wavelength platforms of mantle convection and its relation to supercontinent processes including TPW. We propose to formulate 3-D spherical mantle convection models with realistic rheology and with multiple continental blocks to determine the controls on long-wavelength platforms of mantle convection and cyclic processes of assembly and breakup of supercontinents. This research will support a PhD level graduate student, and includes international collaboration with Dr. Z-X. Li from University of Western Australia.