Structure and Dynamics of the Earth's Interior 1

Julien Monteux is a CNRS researcher at the Magmas and Volcanoes Laboratory in Clermont-Ferrand, France. He develops numerical models to characterize the coupling between accretion and thermochemical evolution within the moons and telluric planets of the Solar System.

• Foreword xiYanick RICARDChapter 1 Models of Mantle Dynamics 1Gaël CHOBLET1.1 Toward the first models of the Earth’s mantle 11.1.1 Prior to the models 11.1.2 Continental drift, thermal convection and plate tectonics 31.2 The physical model: thermal convection 51.2.1 Conservation laws: mass, momentum, energy 61.2.2 Constitutive relationships: Fourier, rheology and equation of state 81.2.3 Boundary and initial conditions 91.2.4 Dimensioning, dimensional analysis and dimensionless numbers 101.2.5. From linear stability analysis to turbulent convection 121.3 “Solving” partial differential equations 161.3.1 Spectral methods 171.3.2 Finite-difference or finite-volume methods 181.3.3 Finite element methods 201.3.4 Various aspects of contemporary methods 211.4 From a reductionist to a holistic approach 241.4.1 Mixed heating 241.4.2 Sphericity 251.4.3 Rheology 261.4.4 Composition 311.4.5 Several phases 321.5 Conclusion 341.6 References 37Chapter 2 How the Earth’s Core and Mantle are Separated: Geochemical and Dynamic Constraints 41Julien MONTEUX and Maud BOYET2.1 Introduction 412.2 How the Earth’s core and mantle are separated: geochemical clues 442.2.1 Internal composition model of the Earth and telluric planets 452.2.2 Chemical elements and their properties 462.2.3 Meteorites: Building blocks of the Earth 482.2.4 Constraints using moderately siderophile elements 522.2.5 Excessive concentration of HSE 532.3 Iron/silicate separation in a magma ocean 542.3.1 Fragmentation on impact 552.3.2 Fragmentation in the magma ocean 562.3.3 Thermochemical evolution of iron droplets 582.4 Iron/silicate separation by giant diapirism 612.5 Giant impact core assemblies 642.6 Conclusion and outlook for magnetic fields 662.7 References 68Chapter 3 Dynamics and Thermal Evolution of the Earth’s Early Mantle 75Julien MONTEUX and Denis ANDRAULT3.1 Introduction 753.2 Primitive energy sources 763.2.1 Short-lived radioactive elements 773.2.2 Impact heating 793.2.3 Viscous dissipation related to core formation 813.2.4 Giant impacts and the Moon’s formation 823.3 Melting curves in the deep mantle 843.3.1 Mantle solidus profile: the temperature at which the first magmas formed 853.3.2. Melting curves for other silicates in the Earth’s mantle 873.3.3 Eutectic mantle melting diagram: example of the core/mantle boundary 883.3.4 Temperature constraints at the core/mantle boundary 913.4 The mantle during the magma ocean stage 913.4.1 A vigorous convection system 923.4.2 Magma ocean modeling 933.4.3 Adiabatic profiles 943.4.4 Cooling dynamics 953.5 From magma oceans to present-day mantle dynamics 973.5.1 Melt fraction rates and viscosity models 983.5.2 Cooling dynamics 1013.5.3 Magma ocean-solid mantle coupling 1023.5.4 Geochemical consequences 1043.6 External influences 1053.6.1 Relationship between the primitive mantle and the core 1053.6.2 Influence of the primitive atmosphere 1063.6.3 The Moon’s influence 1063.7 Conclusion 1073.8 References 108Chapter 4 Hotspots, Large Igneous Provinces and Global Mantle Dynamics 115Cinzia G. FARNETANI4.1 Introduction 1154.2 Active hotspots today 1174.3 Geochemistry of hotspot lavas: long-lived and short-lived isotope systems, what do they tell us? 1204.4 Seismic imaging below hotspots: To which extent do LLSVPs and ULVZs “feed” mantle plumes? 1254.5 Plumes in the convecting mantle 1274.6 Large igneous provinces 1304.6.1 Phanerozoic continental flood basalts 1304.6.2 Phanerozoic oceanic plateaus 1344.6.3 Older LIPs and radiating dyke swarms 1364.7 Environmental effects of Phanerozoic large igneous provinces 1384.7.1. Factors triggering global warming and global cooling 1404.7.2 Oceanic anoxia events: ocean acidification 1414.7.3 Ozone depletion from halogen emissions: release of toxic metals 1424.8 Concluding remarks 1434.9 References 144Chapter 5 Heat Flow and Secular Cooling of the Mantle 155Stéphane LABROSSE5.1 Introduction 1555.2 Geophysics of the seafloor and the oceanic heat flow 1565.2.1 Infinite half-space model 1575.2.2 Observations: seafloor age and heat flow 1585.2.3 Seafloor depth 1625.2.4 Total oceanic heat loss 1645.2.5 Link to mantle dynamics 1685.3 Continental heat flow 1725.4 Heat sources and secular evolution 1755.5 Conclusion 1805.6 References 181Chapter 6 Noble Gases: Geochemical Tracers of Mantle Dynamics 187Manuel Alexis MOREIRA6.1 Introduction 1876.2 Noble gases in the mantle 1886.2.1 General information on noble gases 1886.2.2 Noble gas analysis 1946.3 The evolution of the mantle–atmosphere system 2096.3.1 Outflows: mantle degassing 2096.4 Past and present dynamics of the Earth’s mantle 2156.4.1 A homogeneous asthenosphere through convection and/or efficient melting? 2156.4.2 Noble gas constraints on magma ocean dynamics 2186.5 Open questions on the origin and evolution of terrestrial noble gases 2206.5.1 Helium concentration in island basalts 2216.5.2 The origin of terrestrial neon (and of helium and hydrogen) 2226.5.3 Missing xenon 2236.6 References 224List of Authors 239Index 241