Details of Award

NERC Reference : NE/K000012/1

Water in the Mantle; A Scoping Proposal

Principal Investigator:: Professor CJ Ballentine, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
Grant held at:: The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences

ENRIs:: Global Change
Science Topics:: Mantle & Core Processes; Palaeoenvironments; Tectonic Processes; Volcanic Processes

Abstract:: The habitability of Earth depends fundamentally on the sustainable presence of liquid water at its surface, but water plays a far greater role in creating a platform for life than simply providing the medium for life and climate at the surface. Small variations in the water content of the mantle changes the minerals properties and specifically their viscosity in the mantle (Mei and Kohlstedt JGR 105, 21457-21469, 2000) with fundamental repercussions on the mode and efficiency of mantle convection (McGovern and Schubert EPSL 96, 27-37, 1989) and may even determine the distribution of incompatible elements in the mantle and their availability to surface systems (Bercovici and Karato Nature 4125, 39-44, 2003). Convection in turn, as well as being the principle mechanism for planetary cooling, controls ocean crust production; continental breakup; plate movement and mountain creation; and flux of water and other volatiles into and out of the mantle. It is clear that mantle convection determines and possibly regulates the habitability of our planet, yet our basic understanding of fundamental controls of this system by the deep Earth, and specifically the critical role of wate over geological time, is woeful.

Authorised funds only

This grant award has a total value of £19,778

DI - Staff	DI - T&S
£1,628	£18,150

If you need further help, please read the user guide.