Anna Maria Schneider

Research Interests

My interest lies in better understanding the evolution of the lowermost mantle structure. By modeling mantle convection informed by plate motion history models covering several 100 million years, my goal is to better constrain the CMB heatflow pattern and provide positional uncertainties. I explore alternative plate motion reference frames, investigate the role of true polar wander and validate predicted mantle structure using seismic normal mode data.

My project is motivated by the idea that the temperature distribution in the lowermost mantle influences the reversal frequency of the geomagnetic field by affecting the stability of the dipolar flow component in the outer core. Reversal frequency changes on time scales of several ten million years, which is comparable to the time scales of mantle convection.

I will constrain the CMB heatflow over time by modeling mantle convection informed by plate motion history. Constraining absolute plate motion is challenging, as paleomagnetic data lack information on paleolongitude, while paleolatitudinal variations carry the signals of plate motion and true polar wander (TPW). This motivated me to investigate the robustness of TPW observations. It also emphasises the need for high-resolution mantle circulation modeling to resolve a low-viscous asthenospheric channel, which is required for realistic time scales and amplitudes of synthetic TPW. I evaluate the mantle structure predicted by alternative absolute plate motion models by computing normal mode data and conducting a statistical comparison with observations.

Name of the project

Influence of the plate motion reference frame on lowermost mantle structure, evolution, and core-mantle boundary heat flow (DFG, unded in the framework of the priority programme SPP2404 DeepDyn, 2023 - 2026)

Publikationsliste