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Seismic constraints on mantle flow and topography of the 660-km discontinuity: evidence for whole-mantle convection

Nature volume 365, pages 506–511 (1993)Cite this article

Abstract

Recent seismic models of three-dimensional mantle structure and topography on the transition-zone seismic discontinuities permit the direct evaluation of the buoyancy forces that drive large-scale mantle flow. This buoyancy distribution, coupled with radial viscosity models that are consistent with the observed geoid, predicts flow patterns with significant vertical flow through the 660-km phase boundary. The observed topography on the 660-km discontinuity acts to inhibit convection across the boundary, but is two to four times too small to prevent whole-mantle convection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093-0225, USA

    Jason Phipps Morgan & Peter M. Shearer

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  1. Jason Phipps Morgan
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  2. Peter M. Shearer
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Morgan, J., Shearer, P. Seismic constraints on mantle flow and topography of the 660-km discontinuity: evidence for whole-mantle convection. Nature 365, 506–511 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/365506a0

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