Melting-induced stratification above the Earth’s inner core due to convective translation

Thierry Alboussière (), Renaud Deguen and Mickaël Melzani
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Thierry Alboussière: Laboratoire de Géophysique Interne et Tectonophysique, CNRS, Observatoire de Grenoble, Université Joseph Fourier, Maison des Géosciences, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
Renaud Deguen: Laboratoire de Géophysique Interne et Tectonophysique, CNRS, Observatoire de Grenoble, Université Joseph Fourier, Maison des Géosciences, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
Mickaël Melzani: Laboratoire de Géophysique Interne et Tectonophysique, CNRS, Observatoire de Grenoble, Université Joseph Fourier, Maison des Géosciences, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France

Nature, 2010, vol. 466, issue 7307, 744-747

Abstract: Melting-induced core anomalies Several observed properties of Earth's solid inner core and liquid outer core remain enigmatic, including an east–west seismic asymmetry and the presence of a roughly 250-kilometre-thick layer of reduced seismic velocity at the base of the outer core. Alboussière et al. now suggest a model that can produce both of these features. Based on experiment and numerical modelling, they propose that simultaneous crystallization and melting at opposite sides of Earth's inner-core surface can result in a translational mode of thermal convection within the inner core, which also introduces an asymmetry between hemispheres.

Date: 2010
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DOI: 10.1038/nature09257

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