Mantle circulation with partial shallow return flow

Conference · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · EOS, Trans., Am. Geophys. Union; (United States)

OSTI ID:5298423

Schubert, G ^[1]; Yuen, D A; Froidevaux, C; Souriau, M

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles

Fully two-dimensional, analytic boundary layer solutions are used to model the thermal and mechanical structure of the oceanic upper mantle, when a shallow horizontal return flow helps to balance the lithospheric transport of mass from ridge to trench. The following processes are all incorporated in the solutions: horizontal and vertical advection of heat, vertical heat conduction, viscous dissipation, adiabatic heating and cooling, buoyancy and the pressure and temperature dependent nonlinear rheology of olivine. Depth profiles of horizontal and vertical velocities and temperature are calculated for several ages of the ocean floor. Such solutions are used to construct accurate isotherm and streamline patterns within the rigid lithosphere and high shear, return flow asthenosphere of the oceanic upper mantle boundary layer. The effects of buoyancy and the adiabat are to widen the shear zone and increase the upward velocity.

• OSTI ID: 5298423
• Conference Information: Journal Name: EOS, Trans., Am. Geophys. Union; (United States) Journal Volume: 57:12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
152000 -- Geothermal Data & Theory
58 GEOSCIENCES
580200* -- Geophysics-- (-1989)
ADIABATIC PROCESSES
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CONVECTION
EARTH MANTLE
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER
ISOTHERM
LAYERS
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OLIVINE
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS