Radiative thermal conductivity of single-crystal bridgmanite at the core-mantle boundary with implications for thermal evolution of the Earth

The Earth has been releasing vast amounts of heat from deep Earth's interior to the surface since its formation, which primarily drives mantle convection and a number of tectonic activities. In this heat transport process the core-mantle boundary where hot molten core is in direct contact with solid-state mantle minerals has played an essential role to transfer thermal energies of the core to the overlying mantle. Although the dominant heat transfer mechanisms at the lowermost mantle is believed to be both conduction and radiation of the primary lowermost mantle mineral, bridgmanite, the radiative thermal conductivity of bridgmanite has so far been poorly constrained. Here we revealed the radiative thermal conductivity of bridgmanite at core-mantle boundary is substantially high approaching to similar to 5.3 +/- 1.2 W/mK based on newly established optical absorption measurement of single-crystal bridgmanite performed in situ under corresponding deep lower mantle conditions. We found the bulk thermal conductivity at core-mantle boundary becomes similar to 1.5 times higher than the conventionally assumed value, which supports higher heat flow from core, hence more vigorous mantle convection than expected. Results suggest the mantle is much more efficiently cooled, which would ultimately weaken many tectonic activities driven by the mantle convection more rapidly than expected from conventionally believed thermal conduction behavior. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

The Earth has been releasing vast amounts of heat from its interior to the surface, driving mantle convection and tectonic activities. The radiative thermal conductivity of bridgmanite at the core-mantle boundary has been revealed to be substantially high, leading to a higher heat flow from the core and more vigorous mantle convection than expected. This higher cooling efficiency of the mantle may weaken tectonic activities more rapidly than conventionally believed.