Influences of lower-mantle properties on the formation of asthenosphere in oceanic upper mantle

Abstract

Asthenosphere is a venerable concept based on geological intuition of Reginald Daly nearly 100 years ago. There have been various explanations for the existence of the asthenosphere.

The concept of a plume-fed asthenosphere has been around for a few years due to the ideas put forth by Yamamoto et al.. Using a two-dimensional Cartesian code based on finite-volume method, we have investigated the influences of lower-mantle physical properties on the formation of a low-viscosity zone in the oceanic upper mantle in regions close to a large mantle upwelling.

Keywords

• Influences
• lower-mantle
• properties
• the
• formation
• asthenosphere
• oceanic
• upper
• mantle