HR: 16:30h
AN: DI14A-03 INVITED    [Abstracts]
TI: Predictive geodynamical modeling of large-scale mantle models
AU: * McNamara, A K
EM: allen.mcnamara@asu.edu
AF: Arizona State University, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
AU: Bull, A L
EM: abigail.bull@asu.edu
AF: Arizona State University, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
AU: Lassak, T M
EM: tlassak@asu.edu
AF: Arizona State University, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
AB: One of the longstanding challenges of solid-Earth geophysics is to discover the large-scale dynamical and chemical structure of Earth's mantle. Geophysical and geochemical observations, and geodynamical modeling have led to several dynamically-different conceptual mantle models which are currently being debated in the community. Key to distinguishing between these models is understanding the cause of the large, low-velocity seismic anomalies observed beneath Africa and the Pacific. Candidate mantle models to explain thse anomalies include isochemical convection with large clusters of thermal plumes, thermochemical piles, and thermochemical superplumes. We perform predictive geodynamical modeling combined with comparison to observations of seismic tomography and CMB topography to test the feasibility these conceptual models. Given the uncertainty in model parameters, particularly the initial condition, we also investigate the predictive ability of geodynamical models to differentiate between these models. Furthermore, we investigate the possible genesis of more-dense material in the thermochemical models.
DE: 7200 SEISMOLOGY
DE: 8100 TECTONOPHYSICS
DE: 8121 Dynamics: convection currents, and mantle plumes
DE: 8124 Earth's interior: composition and state (1212, 7207, 7208, 8105)
DE: 8125 Evolution of the Earth (0325)
SC: Study of the Earth's Deep Interior [DI]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting