The origin of large scale structure in mantle convection: Effects of plate motions and viscosity stratification

Convection in Earth{close_quote}s mantle is dominated by long-wavelength structure, as evidenced by the very {open_quote}{open_quote}red{close_quote}{close_quote} spectra of both seismic velocity heterogeneity in the deep mantle and the non-hydrostatic gravity field, or geoid. Here we show that this large-scale structure may be a consequence of two factors that influence the scale of mantle convection. First, the existence of surface plates, which tend to organize the flow. Second, a substantial increase in lower mantle viscosity for which there is considerable independent geophysical evidence. Combining these two factors in 3-D spherical mantle convection models explains rather well the observed seismic spectrum of mantle heterogeneity. {copyright} American Geophysical Union 1996

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