Mantle flow reversals in cylindrical Earth models

We employ a two-dimensional model of mantle convection in a cylindrical shell to study the influence of curvature on the phenomenon of spontaneous flow reversal, which has been found previously only in plane layer models in Cartesian geometry. Our model includes rigidly moving plates, with weak zones at each end, and uniformly distributed internal heat sources. Surface plates in this model are passive in that their lateral velocities reflect the overall buoyancy in the underlying mantle and, at each time step, match the average surface velocity that would occur in the absence of plates. Our principal finding is that flow reversals, similar to those in plane layers, are also found in our cylindrical shell models, thereby attesting to the robustness of this feature. We conduct systematic investigations of the impact on the flow reversal behavior of varying degree of curvature, plate thickness, internal heating rate and aspect ratio of the convection cells. Flow reversals are driven by a build-up of internally heated material adjacent to a major mantle downwelling. When thermal instabilities develop in the upper boundary layer they develop into intermediate sinking plumes which disrupt the build-up of hot material near sinking plumes. Accordingly, parameter values which tend to stabilize the upper thermal boundary layer (low degree of curvature, high plate thickness, small aspect ratio and intermediate internal heating rate) favor regular flow reversals.