Nonlinear free thermal convection in a spherical shell: A variable viscosity model

Abstract

In mantle convection models, the mantle viscosity is generally assumed constant or dependent on depth. In this paper, a laterally variable viscosity is introduced into mantle convection model in which the mantle viscosity consists of a constant background and latitude-dependent viscosity with small fluctuations. The features of toroidal field dependent on depth and Rayleigh number are discussed under two boundary conditions, i.e., the top rigid and bottom stress-free boundaries (R-F boundary for short) and both rigid ones (R-R boundary for short), respectively. The results show that the energy of toroidal field mainly concentrates in the middle and upper parts of a spherical shell, and the ratio of toroidal to total velocities amounts to only a few percents and hardly depends on Rayleigh number, while the convection patterns of toroidal field have been strongly affected by Rayleigh number. It is found that the convection patterns and velocities of toroidal field have obvious differences in latitudinal direction, which clearly reflects the effects of lateral mantle viscosity variations on the convection patterns. These preliminary results give us a possible hint to study some global tectonic phenomena, e.g. the asymmetry of the southern and northern hemispheres and the Earth’s differential rotation.