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Index Geophysics

Simple plate models of mantle convection

Item

Title (Dublin Core)

en-US Simple plate models of mantle convection

Description (Dublin Core)

en-US A simple convective model that can maintain observed plate motions consists of a viscous upper mantle of uniform density overlain by denser rigid plates. In the absence of density differences within the upper mantle the viscous stresses exerted by the flow are easily obtained and demonstrate that the buoyancy forces associated with plate creation and destruction can maintain plate motions. A model having a uniform viscosity upper mantle is, however, unsatisfactory because it predicts gravity and residual depth anomalies two orders of magnitude larger than those observed. This problem can be overcome by introducing a thin low viscosity layer beneath the plates. The resulting model is then similar to that proposed by Forsyth and Uyeda and by Chapple and Tullis despite a very different approach. This agreement suggests that the energetics of plate motion are now understood in outline. The model cannot, however, account for the existence of the longwavelength gravity anomalies which are not associated with plate motions.
          ARK: https://n2t.net/ark:/88439/y001916
Permalink: https://geophysicsjournal.com/article/139
 

Creator (Dublin Core)

Richter, F.
McKenzie, D.

Subject (Dublin Core)

en-US Plate dynamics
en-US Mantle convection
en-US Mantle viscosity
en-US Methods

Publisher (Dublin Core)

en-US Journal of Geophysics

Date (Dublin Core)

1977-12-12

Type (Dublin Core)

info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
en-US Peer-reviewed Article

Format (Dublin Core)

application/pdf

Identifier (Dublin Core)

https://journal.geophysicsjournal.com/JofG/article/view/139

Source (Dublin Core)

en-US Journal of Geophysics; Vol 44 No 1 (1977): Journal of Geophysics; 441-471
2643-2986
2643-9271

Language (Dublin Core)

eng

Relation (Dublin Core)

https://journal.geophysicsjournal.com/JofG/article/view/139/98