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Finite amplitude convective cells and continental drift

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2006

D. L. Turcotte  and
E. R. Oxburgh
D. L. Turcotte
Affiliation:
Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford
E. R. Oxburgh
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Oxford
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Abstract

A solution is obtained for steady, cellular convection when the Rayleigh number and the Prandtl number are large. The core of each two-dimensional cell contains a highly viscous, isothermal flow. Adjacent to the horizontal boundaries are thin thermal boundary layers. On the vertical boundaries between cells thin thermal plumes drive the viscous flow. The non-dimensional velocities and heat transfer between the horizontal boundaries are found to be functions only of the Rayleigh number. The theory is used to test the hypothesis of large scale convective cells in the earth's mantle. Using accepted values of the Rayleigh number for the earth's mantle the theory predicts the generally accepted velocity associated with continental drift. The theory also predicts values for the heat flux to the earth's surface which are in good agreement with measurements carried out on the ocean floors.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 28 , Issue 1 , 12 April 1967 , pp. 29 - 42
Copyright
© 1967 Cambridge University Press

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