Early Transient Superplumes: Implications For Mars

Mathematics – Logic

Scientific paper

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0545 Modeling (4255), 5724 Interiors (8147), 5749 Origin And Evolution

Scientific paper

At the end of planetary accretion, the temperature difference between the core and the mantle of Mars can be very large, perhaps of the order of 1000 K. With strongly temperature-dependent mantle rheology, this temperature difference generates a large viscosity contrast across the thermal boundary layer at the base of the mantle, leading to the development of small-scale convection within the thermal boundary layer. Plumes form by large-scale instability of the internally convecting thermal boundary layer. We have derived scaling relationships for plume formation in this regime and supported our theory by numerical simulations in the fully three-dimensional, spherical shell geometry. Our scaling relationships suggest that one large plume ("superplume") is likely to form in the early history of Mars. This may produce the crustal dichotomy within a very short time scale, consistent with geological constraints. Numerical simulations taking into account the effect of core cooling show that the core cools substantially due to the superplume formation so that the subsequent plumes are much weaker or do not form at all. The heat flux from the core, associated with the superplume is sufficiently large to maintain the dynamo.

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