Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Effect of a Region of Low Viscosity on Thermal Convection in the Mantle

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL and geological studies have revealed a world-wide pattern of tectonic features and have provided increasing evidence of crustal mobility. These have recently been related through the remarkable work of Vine and Matthews and others1,2 on sea floor spreading. There is some indication3 that the rifts which mark the bifurcation line of sea floor spreading are also regions of high heat flow. Regions of low heat flow appear to parallel the rifts at distances of several thousand kilometres.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Vine, F. J., and Matthews, D. H., Nature, 199, 947 (1963).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Heirtzler, J. R., Dickson, G. O., Herron, E. M., Pitman III, W. C., and Le Pichon, X., J. Geophys. Res., 73, 2119 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Telford, W. M. Nature, 216, 143 (1967).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lord Rayleigh, Phil. Mag., 32, 529 (1916).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Jeffreys, H., Phil. Mag., 2, 833 (1926).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chandrasekhar, S., Hydrodynamic and Hydromagnetic Stability (Oxford, 1961).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  7. Gordon, R. B., J. Geophys. Res., 70, 2413 (1965).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. McConnell, R. K., J. Geophys. Res., 70, 5171 (1965).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Anderson, D. L., and Archambeau, C. B., J. Geophys. Res., 69, 2071 (1964).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. McKenzie, D. P. J. Geophys. Res., 71, 3995 (1966).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

MCFADDEN, C., SMYLIE, D. Effect of a Region of Low Viscosity on Thermal Convection in the Mantle. Nature 220, 468–469 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/220468a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/220468a0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing