MR08: Lower mantle thermal conductivity: experiment, computation, and implications for the mantle dynamics

Thermal conductivity of the Earth’s lower mantle regulates amount of the heat flow across the core-mantle-boundary and impacts the convection throughout the mantle. Recent advances in both experimental and computational mineral physics techniques have provided new opportunities to significantly improve constrains on this important mineral property. In this session, we solicit contributions on recent progress in experimental measurements, numerical modelings, and theoretical calculations that will lead to new understandings of effects of pressure, temperature, and iron concentration/spin state on the phonon and photon thermal conductivity of the lower mantle minerals. Contributions on geodynamical numerical simulations that discuss the implications for mantle dynamics are also welcome.

Conveners:

Alexander Goncharov, Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, agoncharov@ciw.edu

Jianjun Dong, Physics Department, Auburn University, jjdong@physics.auburn.edu

David A. Yuen, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Minnesota, daveyuen@gmail.com