The Superpile Cycle: the mobility of LLSVPs in response to plate tectonics

The Superpile Cycle: the mobility of LLSVPs in response to plate tectonics | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article The Superpile Cycle: the mobility of LLSVPs in response to plate tectonics Abigail Plimmer, J. Huw Davies This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6682277/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The coupling between the surface and deep Earth is fundamental to the dynamics of the planet, yet the nature of these interactions remain poorly understood through space and time. These processes are elusive, in part, because of a lack of constraint on the nature and evolution of two antipodal large low shear-velocity provinces (LLSVPs) near the core-mantle boundary (CMB), and the role they play in mantle circulation. The origins and long-term stability of these features are debated. This study aims to assess the relative stability of LLSVP-like structures in 3D mantle circulation models, through the coupling between these structures, upwellings and downwellings. The 'superpile cycle', named after its close ties to the supercontinent cycle, depicts the evolution of the deep Earth in response to supercontinent dynamics. Supercontinents assemble with stable subduction girdles and antipodal basal mantle structures, then break apart. During dispersal, as new subduction zones form, slabs induce more complex mantle flow and disrupt the stable degree 2 structure in the lowermost mantle. As subduction zones stabilise, LLSVP-like structures tend back to two antipodal piles, and a new supercontinent may assemble. These findings highlights the cyclical and coupled nature of structures in the deep Earth and at the surface. Earth and environmental sciences/Solid Earth sciences/Geodynamics Earth and environmental sciences/Solid Earth sciences/Tectonics Mantle circulation LLSVPs Supercontinent cycles Superpiles Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. 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These processes are elusive, in part, because of a lack of constraint on the nature and evolution of two antipodal large low shear-velocity provinces (LLSVPs) near the core-mantle boundary (CMB), and the role they play in mantle circulation. The origins and long-term stability of these features are debated. This study aims to assess the relative stability of LLSVP-like structures in 3D mantle circulation models, through the coupling between these structures, upwellings and downwellings. \r\nThe 'superpile cycle', named after its close ties to the supercontinent cycle, depicts the evolution of the deep Earth in response to supercontinent dynamics. Supercontinents assemble with stable subduction girdles and antipodal basal mantle structures, then break apart. During dispersal, as new subduction zones form, slabs induce more complex mantle flow and disrupt the stable degree 2 structure in the lowermost mantle. As subduction zones stabilise, LLSVP-like structures tend back to two antipodal piles, and a new supercontinent may assemble. 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