| Two-dimensional numerical models have been employed to examine the hypothesis that thermal blanketing caused by thick lithospheric plates has a role in the overheating of the underlying mantle, thus affecting mantle circulation. Oceanic plates have been assumed rigid and with finite thickness. The method is to achieve plate-like characteristics by imposing plate-like surface motions that reflect the overall underlying buoyancy in the mantle. Internal heating has also been included. The effect of different parameters on flow reversal, where surface plates change direction by 180 degrees, has been examined using uniform 2D numerical meshes.; This work, which has been done using completely different numerical models and different approximations, agrees strongly with the Lowman et al . [2001] paper when the surface velocities are in tune.; Another study has been carried out for both Cartesian and cylindrical geometries including the effect of curvature. Similar results have been produced with the more Earth-like geometry. |
