Title: Convection models: Laboratory versus mantle
Abstract: A general comparison is made between some laboratory convection experiments and behavior which the mantle appears to possess. The structure of convection of a uniform viscosity fluid heatened evenly from below is reviewed, and is seen to exhibit pronounced three-dimensionality at Rayleigh numbers which are believed to apply to the mantle. Some features which resemble tectonic features are described, but the convection is generally much more complex than the lithospheric plate motions which the earth appears to possess. It is advocated that a new class of problems must be addressed involving surface plate—interior convection interaction. A theoretical stability analysis along these lines is described where each convection cell pushes a rigid plate at the upper surface. Under suitable conditions cells with a large width to depth ratio are predicted to be the most expected form. A second class of experiments and theory is described which is aimed at the problem of a moveable energy source. Under some circumstances the convection in this case goes unstable to a drift which is of the same magnitude as the overturning time of the convection.
Publication Year: 1976
Publication Date: 1976-10-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 15
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