Tomographic image of aspherical Slab subduction through a phase

variations in P-wave velocity in the boundary computed from a

mantle below northern Tonga. The geodynamical model showing
complex morphology of the subducting
similar morphology. (U.
Tonga slab is seen. (From R. van der
Christensen, Earth and Planetary
Hilst, Nature, Vol. 374, 1995.)
Science Letters, Vol. 140, 1996.)
At the core-mantle boundary, the structure of the mysterious D" layer region becomes clearer

07/97
At roughly 2,900 km below the earth's surface, a thin layer (only 200 - 300 km thick), known by geophysicists as
the D" layer, provides a buffer between the Earth's lower mantle and the core. This layer has intrigued scientists for
a dozen years because, according to available data, it is heterogeneous. Moreover, energy and mass transfers and
kinetic moments between the core and the mantle appear to take place in this region, and scientists would like to be
able to quantify these occurrences. For the time being, seismology provides the only direct method of investigating
this deeply-buried region. By analyzing the way in which seismic waves released by violent earthquakes behave as
they pass through the D" region, seismologists can map certain of its properties. A team at the "Terrestrial and
Planetary Dynamics" Laboratory (CNRS-University of Toulouse 3) recently conducted a series of studies which
confirm the presence of areas with greater travelling velocities. According to their interpretation, these areas are
the remains of old immersed plates pulled to the base of the lower mantle by the phenomenon of subduction. Their
research also reveals that at the base of the D" region there is a very thin layer which may correspond to iron
seeping from the core. Thanks to the method used they used - comparing the travelling time of two seismic waves,
with one passing through the D" layer and the other serving as a control - the researchers were able to characterize
heterogeneities with greater precision.

http://www.cnrs.fr/Cnrspresse/en345a2.html
Nature of the Lower Mantle
The dynamics of the Earth's lower mantle, the largest continuous region of the interior, plays 
a  major  role  in  controlling  the  thermal  evolution  of  the  planet.  The  lower  mantle  extends 
from  660­2890  km  depth  (24­136  GPa)  and  is  inaccessible  by  direct  observation. 
Observations of variations in the velocity of seismic waves with position (heterogeneity) and 
with  propagation  direction  (anisotropy),  promise  a  revolution  in  our  understanding  of  the 
dynamics  of  this  important  layer.  However,  this  expectation  can  only  be  fulfilled  by 
comparable advances in our understanding of the properties of the primary constituents of 
the  lower  mantle.  These  allows  the  conversion  of  lateral  variations  in  velocity  to  lateral 
variations in temperature and composition, placing constraints on Earth's thermal state and 
on  the  pattern  of  mantle  convection.  First  principles  computations  have  led  to  major 
advances in our understanding of elasticity and seismic wave propagation as well as phase 
transitions  at  the  high  pressures  and  temperatures  of  the  mantle.  However,  it  has  just 
started  scratching  the  surface  of  the  formidable  challenges  related  to  the  fact  that  these 
phases are solid solutions involving strongly correlated end members that may undergo spin 
transitions  under  typical  mantle  pressures.  This  project  consists  in  tackling  these 
challenges. (Wentzcovitch, de Gironcoli, Karki, and Allen) 

http://www.vlab.msi.umn.edu/projects/
The Earth's Core
Earth's core formed very early in the planet's history, and is thought to have carried with it 
atomic  species  other  than  iron.  Although  it  is  isolated  from  the  surface,  it  influences  our 
environment through the production of Earth's magnetic field. To understand the process by 
which the field is generated and how it changes with time, several properties of iron and iron 
alloys  must  be  understood  first.  Along  with  major  advances  in  experimental  methods,  first 
principles studies of iron have contributed substantially to our understanding of Earth's core 
over  the  last  several  years.  Future  progress  demands  a  consideration  of  iron  with  other 
alloying elements. We know light elements must be present in the solid inner core and liquid 
outer  core  from  seismic  density  measurements.  The  major  candidates  are  O,  Si,  and  S, 
although,  in  principle  their  identity  is  virtually  unconstrained.  Important  recent  work  has 
shown  one  possible  way  to  calculate  the  concentration  of  individual  light  elements  in  the 
inner and outer parts. But major questions remain regarding: a) phase relations in the solid. 
Is the amount of light element in the inner core sufficient to stabilize new crystalline phases? 
b) What is the liquidus temperature of the outer core alloy (and therefore the temperature at 
the  inner  core  boundary)?  c)  How  does  simultaneous  consideration  of  multiple  alloying 
elements  change  the  partitioning  determined  with  a  single  element?  (Siepmann,  Allen, 
Gillan, and Price

http://www.vlab.msi.umn.edu/projects/