Porosity-driven convection and asymmetry beneath mid-ocean ridges

Journal article

Seismic tomography of the asthenosphere beneath mid-ocean ridges has produced images of wave speed and anisotropy that are asymmetric across the ridge axis. These features have been interpreted as resulting from an asymmetric distribution of upwelling and melting. Using computational models of coupled magma/mantle dynamics beneath mid-ocean ridges, I show that such asymmetry should be expected if buoyancy forces contribute to mantle upwelling beneath ridges. The sole source of buoyancy consid...

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Authors: Katz, R

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 11
• Pages: n/a-n/a
• Publication date: 2010-11-10
• DOI: 10.1029/2010GC003282
• EISSN: 1525-2027
• ISSN: 1525-2027
• Language: English
• Keywords: volcanism; mid-ocean ridge; convection; plate tectonics; active flow; magma