Influence of Grain Size Evolution on Mantle Plume and LLSVP Dynamics

Abstract Recent seismic tomography models suggest large‐radius primary plumes originating from the core‐mantle boundary, with grain size variations potentially explaining these observations. Additionally, grain size variations are thought to enhance the long‐term stability of Large Low Shear Velocit...

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Main Authors: Yusen Liu, Ting Yang, Kai Wang, Xiong Wang, Yang Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-11-01
Series:Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GC011807
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author Yusen Liu
Ting Yang
Kai Wang
Xiong Wang
Yang Li
author_facet Yusen Liu
Ting Yang
Kai Wang
Xiong Wang
Yang Li
author_sort Yusen Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Recent seismic tomography models suggest large‐radius primary plumes originating from the core‐mantle boundary, with grain size variations potentially explaining these observations. Additionally, grain size variations are thought to enhance the long‐term stability of Large Low Shear Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs), identified as thermochemical piles near the core‐mantle boundary. Nevertheless, geodynamic models investigating these hypotheses remain limited. To address this gap, we constructed a series of geodynamic numerical models incorporating grain size evolution, plate tectonics, and the spontaneous generation of deep mantle plumes above LLSVPs. Our results reveal that grain size evolution does not significantly affect the plume width, primarily because the increased strain rate in the mantle plume suppresses both its grain size and viscosity. The region adjacent to the plumes, characterized by the accumulation of mantle materials with larger grain size and low‐temperature remnants of subducted slabs, displays a higher viscosity compared to the area near the subducted slabs. Furthermore, grain size evolution plays a crucial role in enhancing the stability of LLSVPs by increasing the viscosity ratio between LLSVPs and the ambient mantle. These findings underscore the need for incorporating grain size evolution in geodynamic models to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of plumes and lower mantle.
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series Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
spelling doaj-art-24e5ad6fe42a4fb592fe0aadea245f5c2025-08-20T02:28:31ZengWileyGeochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems1525-20272024-11-012511n/an/a10.1029/2024GC011807Influence of Grain Size Evolution on Mantle Plume and LLSVP DynamicsYusen Liu0Ting Yang1Kai Wang2Xiong Wang3Yang Li4Department of Earth and Space Science Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen ChinaDepartment of Earth and Space Science Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen ChinaDepartment of Earth and Space Science Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen ChinaDepartment of Earth and Space Science Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen ChinaState Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaAbstract Recent seismic tomography models suggest large‐radius primary plumes originating from the core‐mantle boundary, with grain size variations potentially explaining these observations. Additionally, grain size variations are thought to enhance the long‐term stability of Large Low Shear Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs), identified as thermochemical piles near the core‐mantle boundary. Nevertheless, geodynamic models investigating these hypotheses remain limited. To address this gap, we constructed a series of geodynamic numerical models incorporating grain size evolution, plate tectonics, and the spontaneous generation of deep mantle plumes above LLSVPs. Our results reveal that grain size evolution does not significantly affect the plume width, primarily because the increased strain rate in the mantle plume suppresses both its grain size and viscosity. The region adjacent to the plumes, characterized by the accumulation of mantle materials with larger grain size and low‐temperature remnants of subducted slabs, displays a higher viscosity compared to the area near the subducted slabs. Furthermore, grain size evolution plays a crucial role in enhancing the stability of LLSVPs by increasing the viscosity ratio between LLSVPs and the ambient mantle. These findings underscore the need for incorporating grain size evolution in geodynamic models to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of plumes and lower mantle.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GC011807
spellingShingle Yusen Liu
Ting Yang
Kai Wang
Xiong Wang
Yang Li
Influence of Grain Size Evolution on Mantle Plume and LLSVP Dynamics
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
title Influence of Grain Size Evolution on Mantle Plume and LLSVP Dynamics
title_full Influence of Grain Size Evolution on Mantle Plume and LLSVP Dynamics
title_fullStr Influence of Grain Size Evolution on Mantle Plume and LLSVP Dynamics
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Grain Size Evolution on Mantle Plume and LLSVP Dynamics
title_short Influence of Grain Size Evolution on Mantle Plume and LLSVP Dynamics
title_sort influence of grain size evolution on mantle plume and llsvp dynamics
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GC011807
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AT xiongwang influenceofgrainsizeevolutiononmantleplumeandllsvpdynamics
AT yangli influenceofgrainsizeevolutiononmantleplumeandllsvpdynamics