[CIG-ALL] U15: Dynamic Earth: Plates, Plumes and Mantle Convection

[Mike Gurnis]

Dear CIG All,

I would like to bring to your attention the following AGU Union Session.

Mike

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U15:     Dynamic Earth: Plates, Plumes and Mantle Convection
Sponsor:     Union

Convener:     Mark Richards
Univ California

(510)642-8560
mark_richards at berkeley.edu

William McDonough
University of Maryland

mcdonoug at umd.edu

Michael Gurnis
California Institute of Technology

(626) 395-6979
gurnis at gps.caltech.edu


Index Terms:     8121 8125 1030 3919 .

Description:     Mantle convection controls the evolution of the Earth 
and plates and plumes are two important modes of mantle convection. 
Plates are the top thermal boundary layer and surface manifestation of 
mantle convection. Plate-mode convection is responsible for plate 
tectonics and controls the structure and thermochemical evolution of the 
mantle. Plumes may be responsible for intra-plate volcanism and cooling 
of the core. Together, these modes control the chemical mixing and 
evolution of the Earth's mantle. Over the last decade enormous progress 
has been made toward elucidating these relationships and so we invite 
contributions from geophysics, mineral physics, geochemistry, and 
geodynamics that address the structure and dynamics of the mantle.