Avalanches at the core‐mantle boundary

Abstract

The partial collapse of topographic structure at the core‐mantle boundary (CMB) in avalanches, slumps or turbidity flows, would cause sudden temperature changes in both the upper core and the lower mantle. Although such collapses are hypothetical, it is interesting to investigate the potential consequences. Downwelling from such events could disrupt core convection cells and trigger geomagnetic excursions and reversals. Buoyant sediment from the freezing of the inner core is hypothesized to rebuild the avalanched structures. Large avalanches could trigger mantle plumes. Oblique extraterrestrial impacts impart high shear to the CMB, and can trigger one or more simultaneous avalanches, yielding observed coincidences between craters, tektite fields and reversals. A triggered avalanche can explain the coincidence between the formation of the largest known volcanic province (the Ontong‐Java Plateau), the start of the 35 Myr Cretaceous geomagnetic quiet period, and reported coincidences between large flood basalts and extinctions.