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

University Of Colorado At Boulder, Boulder CO

Investigators

Abstract

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.