Mantle Convection In The Earth And Planets

This page intentionally left blank Mantle Convection in the Earth and Planets Mantle Convection in the Earth and Planets is a comprehensive synthesis of all aspects of mantle convection within the Earth, the terrestrial planets, the Moon, and the Galilean satellites of Jupiter. Mantle convection sets the pace for the evolution of the Earth as a whole. It influences Earth’s topography, gravitational field, geodynamo, climate system, cycles of glaciation, biological evolution, and formation of mineral and hydrocarbon resources. It is the primary mechanism for the transport of heat from the Earth’s deep interior to its surface. Mantle convection is the fundamental cause of plate tectonics, formation and drift of continents, volcanism, earthquakes, and mountain building. This book provides both a connected overview and an in-depth analysis of the relationship between these phenomena and the process of mantle convection. Complex geodynamical processes are explained with simple mathematical models. The book includes up-to-date discussions of the latest research developments that have revolutionized our understanding of the Earth and the planets. These developments include: • the emergence of mantle seismic tomography which has given us a window into the mantle and a direct view of mantle convection; • progress in measuring the thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of Earth materials in the laboratory; • dramatic improvements in computational power that have made possible the construction of realistic numerical models of mantle convection in three-dimensional spherical geometry; • spacecraft missions to Venus (Magellan), the Moon (Clementine and Lunar Prospector), Mars (Mars Global Surveyor), and the Galilean moons of Jupiter (Galileo) t