The Viscosity of the Top Third of the Lower Mantle Estimated Using GPS, GRACE, and Relative Sea Level Measurements of Glacial Isostatic Adjustment

We distinguish between two models of solid Earth's viscoelastic response to unloading of the Laurentide ice sheet over the past 26,000 years. The upper mantle viscosity in both models is 0.5 x 10(21) Pa s. The viscosity of the top 500 km of the lower mantle (670-1,170 km) in model L17 is 13 x 10(21) Pa s, eight times larger than the value of 1.6 x 10(21) Pa s in ICE-6G_D (VM5a). In ICE-6G_D (VM5a), viscous relaxation of solid Earth was rapid 8,000 years ago and is slow today, with present-day uplift at the Laurentide ice center being 12 mm/yr. In L17, solid Earth relaxed more slowly 8,000 years ago but is faster today, with present uplift of the ice center occurring at 20 mm/yr. The significant difference is not due to different ice histories given that total ice loss in L17 is just 12% less than in ICE-6G_D. We determine a comprehensive set of GPS uplift rates for North America that is more accurate than in prior studies due to (1) more sites and a longer data time history, (2) removal of elastic loading produced by increase in Great Lakes water, and (3) technical advances in GPS positioning that have significantly reduced the dispersion in position estimates. We find uplift at the ice center to be about 12 mm/yr, supporting the low value of the viscosity of the top 500 km of the lower mantle in ICE-6G_D (VM5a), but ruling out the high value in L17.

Automated summary

A comparison of two models for the Earth's viscoelastic response to the unloading of the Laurentide ice sheet over the past 26,000 years reveals significant differences in mantle viscosity values between ICE-6G_D (VM5a) and L17. The study determines more accurate GPS uplift rates for North America based on a comprehensive set of data and technical advances, supporting the low viscosity value in ICE-6G_D (VM5a) and ruling out the high value in L17.