Dynamics of earth and planetary interiors

地球和太阳系的其他行星从表面到内核都是动态的天体。比较行星学的研究涉及地球和行星的动力学历史、大规模行星湍流的性质、地磁场的起源、地球上生命的起源和火星上生命的可能性。我们在项目中使用行星对流的数值模型以及观测和分析方法，从全球和区域地震学的综合研究和地幔中固态对流的动力学到外行星风和磁场的数值模拟。地幔动力学和地震学研究的目的是了解俯冲板块与上地幔过渡带相互作用并深入地幔深部时的命运。这项工作是由一名博士生和亚利桑那大学的全球地震学小组合作完成的。在行星动力学模型中，数值模拟与以前和正在进行的太空任务（如卡西尼号宇宙飞船，目前正在绕土星运行）得出的模型进行了比较。这项工作是与加州大学洛杉矶分校和德国林道马克斯普朗克太阳系研究所的研究人员合作进行的。目前正在开发对流发电机作用和太阳风-磁层相互作用的耦合模型来研究地球、水星和火星。这些模型帮助我们了解水星的内在和相对较弱的磁场，信使号宇宙飞船将在2008年1月飞越水星磁层，并在2011年进入轨道，对其进行测绘。合作者包括亚利桑那大学的空间物理小组和华盛顿特区的卡内基研究所——信使号任务的所在地。计划中的早期火星发电机项目将整合地核、地幔、大气层和磁层动力学。通过阿尔伯塔大学新成立的空间科学、探索和技术研究所（ISSET），本项目将大大受益于部门间的相互作用。

The Earth and other planets of our solar system are dynamical bodies from their surfaces to their cores. Studies in comparative planetology address the dynamical history of the Earth and planets, the nature of large scale planetary turbulence, the origins of the geomagnetic planetary magnetic fields, the origin of life on Earth and the possibility of life on Mars. We use numerical models of planetary convection along with observational and analytical methods in projects that range from integrated studies of global and regional seismology and the dynamics of solid-state convection in the Earth's mantle to numerical simulations of winds and magnetic fields of the outer planets. The mantle dynamics and seismology study is aimed at understanding the fate of subducting slabs as they interact with the upper mantle transition zone and penetrate into the deep mantle. This work is being carried out with a PhD student and in collaboration with the global seismology group at U of A. In the planetary dynamics models, numerical simulations are compared to models derived from previous and ongoing space missions (such as the Cassini spacecraft, currently orbiting Saturn). This work is in collaboration with researchers from UCLA and the Max Planck Institute for Solar System research in Lindau, Germany. Coupled models of convective dynamo action and solar wind - magnetosphere interaction are presently being developed to study the Earth, Mercury and Mars. These models help us to understand Mercury's intrinsic and relatively weak magnetic field, which will be mapped by the MESSENGER spacecraft, starting with a flyby through the magnetosphere in January, 2008 and orbit insertion in 2011. Collaborators include the Space Physics group at U of A, and the Carnegie Institution in Washington DC -- home of the MESSENGER mission. A planned project on the early Mars dynamo will integrate core, mantle, amospheric, and magnetospheric dynamics. This project will benefit greatly from interdepartmental interaction through the newly created Institute for Space Science, Exploration and Technology (ISSET) at the University of Alberta.