Can lab-based rock rheology produce plate-like convection? · revision history

Revision 2

Accepted · core change · record

Changes against revision 1:

Title
Can lab-based rock rheology produce plate-like convection?
Plain
Computer models only produce Earth-like plates if the outer shell is assumed several times weaker than lab rocks. Whether a realistic weakening process closes that gap is unknown.
Precise · changed · core
Revision 1: Mantle convection models give plate-like behavior only for lithospheric yield stresses of roughly $1e9 \text{ to } 3e9\,\mathrm{dyn}/\mathrm{cm}^{2}$, while laboratory-derived lithospheric strength is of order $1e10\,\mathrm{dyn}/\mathrm{cm}^{2}$. Determine whether a lab-calibrated rheology (grain damage with Zener pinning, low-temperature plasticity, fluid effects) yields plate-like convection in 3D spherical models at Earth parameters. An answer is such a model or a proof that the gap remains.
Revision 2: Mantle convection models give plate-like behavior only for lithospheric yield stresses of roughly $10^{9} \text{ to } 3 \times 10^{9}\,\mathrm{dyn}/\mathrm{cm}^{2}$, while laboratory-derived lithospheric strength is of order $10^{10}\,\mathrm{dyn}/\mathrm{cm}^{2}$. Determine whether a lab-calibrated rheology (grain damage with Zener pinning, low-temperature plasticity, fluid effects) yields plate-like convection in 3D spherical models at Earth parameters. An answer is such a model or a proof that the gap remains.
Settled by
Spherical convection simulations with only experimentally constrained rheological parameters showing or failing to show plate-like surface motion.
Kind
well-posed
Answer type
yes-no
References
(empty)
Literature status
open
Status note
(empty)
Posed since
(empty)

Decisions