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Generation of Plate Tectonics and Mantle Heterogeneity from a
Spherical, Visco-plastic Convection Model [Heading 1 – Calibri, Bold, 16pt,
centered]
Bradford J. Foley and Thorsten W. Becker, University of Southern California [Normal Cambria, 11pt, italics]
How plate tectonics arises from mantle convection is a question that has only very recently
become feasible to address with spherical, visco-plastic computations. We used CitcomS to
compute convection simulations with temperature-dependent viscosity, a plastic yield
stress, and varying heating modes. This rheology has been shown to be effective in
producing some key features of plate tectonics in 3-D Cartesian geometry: a rigid surface
forms, with deformation localized in narrow zones; downwellings are sheet-like; and
surface motions are coherent and uniform across ‘plates.’ We explore the Rayleigh number
(Ra) - yield stress (σy) phase space, and the effects of depth-dependent σy, bottom heating,
and a low viscosity asthenosphere.
Images of the surface viscosity field, with velocity vectors (left), cold isosurface showing downwellings
(center), and a temperature power spectrum (right) showing a strong degree two signature. [Caption,
Calibri, 10 pt, italics]
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CIG Code(s): [Cambria, 11pt]
Acknowledgements (optional): [Cambria, 11pt]
References [2 space indent, Cambria, 11pt]
Foley, B. J. and T. W. Becker, Generation of Plate Tectonics and Mantle Heterogeneity from a
Spherical, Visco-plastic Convection Model, Geochem. Geophys. Geosys.
MS#2009GC002387, Submitted.