GD10.2 | Constraining mantle convection models with Earth’s observations
Constraining mantle convection models with Earth’s observations
Convener: Franck LatallerieECSECS | Co-conveners: Thomas Duvernay, Emma Chambers, Sarah Jane Fowler, James Panton

Mantle circulation simulations are now capable of a high level of precision and complexity that allows the creation of numerous "Earth-like" models. Likewise, advances in observation resources and methods have improved the quantity and quality of data on the Earth's interior. Combining these developments presents a unique opportunity to enhance our understanding of mantle dynamics and evolution over geological time scales. However, the exact physics leading to Earth-like simulations remains debated (e.g. the existence of a primordial layer, the core-mantle-boundary temperature, etc...). Furthermore, constraining geodynamical simulations or assessing their predictions with observational data can be challenging, for example, due to data noise, issues related to inverse methods, or uncertainty propagation.

This session aims to explore how observational data can be used to constrain or assess geodynamical simulations and advance our knowledge of the physical processes that govern the Earth's mantle. We invite submissions from various fields, including seismology, geochemistry, mineral physics or geomagnetism where observations have the potential to constrain geodynamical simulations or assess their predictions. The nature of these studies can be purely observational, exploring the inversion of data to possible Earth models or proposing metrics to assess how Earth-like a model is.

This session also aims to compare these observations and address their potential to constrain or assess geodynamical simulations, with the ultimate goal of better understanding which parameters may cause models to be more or less Earth-like.

Mantle circulation simulations are now capable of a high level of precision and complexity that allows the creation of numerous "Earth-like" models. Likewise, advances in observation resources and methods have improved the quantity and quality of data on the Earth's interior. Combining these developments presents a unique opportunity to enhance our understanding of mantle dynamics and evolution over geological time scales. However, the exact physics leading to Earth-like simulations remains debated (e.g. the existence of a primordial layer, the core-mantle-boundary temperature, etc...). Furthermore, constraining geodynamical simulations or assessing their predictions with observational data can be challenging, for example, due to data noise, issues related to inverse methods, or uncertainty propagation.

This session aims to explore how observational data can be used to constrain or assess geodynamical simulations and advance our knowledge of the physical processes that govern the Earth's mantle. We invite submissions from various fields, including seismology, geochemistry, mineral physics or geomagnetism where observations have the potential to constrain geodynamical simulations or assess their predictions. The nature of these studies can be purely observational, exploring the inversion of data to possible Earth models or proposing metrics to assess how Earth-like a model is.

This session also aims to compare these observations and address their potential to constrain or assess geodynamical simulations, with the ultimate goal of better understanding which parameters may cause models to be more or less Earth-like.