Potassium influence on Earth's mantle convection and Borexino data

Abstract

High flux of geoantineutrinos $^{40}$K and geoneutrinos $^{40}$K ($^{40}$K-geo-($\barν + ν$)) can be obtained from reanalysis of the Borexino Phase III data. Large amounts of $^{40}$K should produce a significant heat flow that should affect Earth's internal processes. We present the results of the modeling of mantle convection taking into account the excess heat from $^{40}$K.

Figures (3)

• Figure 1: The result of solving the governing equations \ref{['Eq:Eler']}, \ref{['Eq:divV']}, \ref{['Eq:term']}. Two-dimensional distribution of dimensionless temperatures and velocities in the mantle. Temperatures are shown by color, velocities indicated by arrows. a) Rayleigh number $Ra=10^{5}$, internal heating source for today $H_{now}=5 \times10^{-12}$ W/kg; b) Rayleigh number $Ra=10^{5}$, internal heating source for today $H_{now}=15 \times10^{-12}$ W/kg; c) Rayleigh numbe $Ra=10^{6}$, internal heating source for today $H_{now}=5 \times10^{-12}$ W/kg; d) Rayleigh number $Ra=10^{6}$, internal heating source for today $H_{now}=15\times10^{-12}$ W/kg
• Figure 2: Dependence of the average temperature on the distance from the center of the Earth. Top: Model with high viscosity, Rayleigh number $Ra=10^{5}$. Bottom: Model with lower viscosity, Rayleigh number $Ra=10^{6}$.
• Figure 3: Dependence of the average velocity module on the distance from the center of the Earth. Top: Model with high viscosity, Rayleigh number $Ra=10^{5}$. Bottom: Model with lower viscosity, Rayleigh number $Ra=10^{6}$.