Constraints on Heat Transport in the Deep Mantle

Details Constraints on Heat Transport in the Deep Mantle Constraints on Heat Transport in the Deep Mantle

Dec 2001

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001agufm.t12e..06b&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2001, abstract #T12E-06

Mathematics

Logic

1510 Dynamo Theories, 8124 Earth'S Interior: Composition And State (Old 8105), 8125 Evolution Of The Earth

Scientific paper

The persistence of the Earth's magnetic field over geological time is an important constraint on the internal evolution of the planet. Continual regeneration of the magnetic field by thermal and compositional convection in the core places demands on the heat flux into the base of the mantle. If the heat flux is too low, thermal convection in the core is shut off and the rate of generation of compositional buoyancy by the solidification of the core may become too low to meet the energy requirements of the geodynamo. On the other hand, a large heat flux causes rapid growth of the inner core, so that convection in the core prior to the appearance of the inner core must be sustained by thermal buoyancy alone. Attendant requirements on the primordial heat acquired during core formation become more severe as the age of the inner core decreases. We examine the compatibility of present-day estimates of heat flux at the core-mantle boundary with the sustained regeneration of the magnetic field over geological time. We use parameterized convection calculations with simple models of convective mixing in the core to estimate the power available to drive the geodynamo. We place bounds on the allowable values of heat flux by comparing the available power with the energy consumption inferred from recent numerical models of the geodynamo.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Constraints on Heat Transport in the Deep Mantle does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Constraints on Heat Transport in the Deep Mantle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Constraints on Heat Transport in the Deep Mantle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1239923