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Contribution of tangential CMB-mantle flow between hot mantle plumes and cold downwellings to ULVZ formation and morphology
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  • Jie Xin,
  • Huai Zhang,
  • Yaolin Shi,
  • Felipe Orellana-Rovirosa,
  • Zhen Zhang,
  • Yimin Jin
Jie Xin
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Huai Zhang
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Yaolin Shi
University of Chinese Academy of Science
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Felipe Orellana-Rovirosa
Southern University of Science and Technology
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Zhen Zhang
Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration
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Yimin Jin
Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration
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Abstract

Ultra-low velocity zones (ULVZs) above the core-mantle boundary (CMB) are observed structures that may be related to the liquid outer-core. As ”thin patches” of dramatically low seismic-wave velocity, they are occasionally found near the base of mantle plumes or in/near high seismic-wave speed regions above the CMB. The causes of their morphology and geodynamics remain unclear, and simulation of high-density melts diverge from observations. We introduce a two-dimensional time-dependent Stokes two-phase flow (with melt migration) numerical model to investigate the evolution of high melt-fraction regions affected by CMB-mantle tangential flows, amidst a hot mantle plume and an optional neighboring cold downwelling. We find that (a) the participation of cold sources with temperature differences between ~4000 K at the plume central regions to <~3900 K at the plume-cooling flanks, separated by horizontal distances of approximately 100 ±50 km are necessary for dense melts (fractional mass-density difference >+1–2%, <+10%) to attain total-mass quasi-stability, (b) an enhanced tangential-horizontal flow in reverse circulation within the broad plume base (with speeds >1–3 times the lowermost-mantle characteristic flow speeds); are necessary for high aspect-ratio-morphology melt-lenses to be compatible with seismic observations. Stresses exerted on variable CMB topography may arise from lateral motion of localized outer-core rigidity-zone structures. The CMB-mantle tangential flow and/or outer-core interacting with CMB-topography may help generate mega-ULVZs, particularly if they appear along the edges of large low-shear-wave-velocity provinces (LLSVPs) or in/near high-seismic-speed “cold” zones. A strong link exists between ULVZ morphology-evolution and the dynamic and heterogeneous environment in-around the CMB.
31 Jul 2024Submitted to ESS Open Archive
01 Aug 2024Published in ESS Open Archive