Thermal evolution with a hydrating mantle and the initiation of plate tectonics in the early Earth
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[1] The net influx of water into the deep mantle by plate tectonics has been poorly constrained because it is difficult to quantify how efficiently subducting slabs are devolatilized on a global scale. The significance of deep water cycle in the Earth history is similarly ambiguous because it depends critically on when plate tectonics started and how it evolved through time. Here I show that, using the new scaling of plate-tectonic convection based on fully dynamic calculations, the thermal evolution of Earth consistent with geochemical, petrological, and geological data requires continuous mantle hydration since the early Earth, with the net water influx of ∼2–3 × 1014 g yr−1. A drier mantle in the Hadean and Archean is suggested to help the initiation of plate tectonics by reducing the viscosity contrast between lithosphere and asthenosphere. As an increase in the vigor of plate tectonics with time would encourage global marine inundation, the slow intake of surface water by the convecting mantle is essential to maintain the continental freeboard.
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With grain-damage, persistent plate motion and subduction could occur in the Hadean, similar to the result of Korenaga [2011], though dehydration of the primordial mantle is not necessary in our model.
“We find that with grain-damage, persistent plate motion and subduction could occur in the Hadean, similar to the result of Korenaga [2011], though dehydration of the primordial mantle is not necessary in our model.”
From Initiation of plate tectonics from post‐magma ocean thermochemical convection (2014) · cites this paper as Korenaga, 2011
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“The variable hydration state of the mantle 5 of 20 may be reflected in its rheology as [Fraeman and Korenaga, 2010] hrðtÞ ¼ hrð0Þ exp 1 − VmwðtÞ Vmwð0Þ logðDhð0ÞÞ ; ð29Þ and DhðtÞ ¼ exp VmwðtÞ Vmwð0Þ logðDhð0ÞÞ : ð30Þ When the mantle becomes completely dry (Vmw(t) = 0), for example, no viscosity…”
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“…to the Earth's surface and reflects the balance between (1) heat lost by convective mantle cooling and conduction through the Earth's lithosphere, and (2) heat gained by radioactive decay in the mantle and conductive heating at the core–mantle boundary (e.g. Anderson, 2000; Korenaga, 2011).”
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- Authors
- Korenaga, J.
- Affiliations
- Yale University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Korenaga, J.
- ORCID
- Korenaga, J.
- Venue
- Journal of Geophysical Research
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Published
- 2011-12-10
- Volume
- 116
- Issue
- B12
- ISSN
- 0148-0227 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2053301115
- Cited by
- 124
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 5.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › High-pressure geophysics and materials
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
- Keywords
- mantle hydration, plate tectonics initiation, deep water cycle
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