I am currently working on Mantle Convection. As a research assistant of
Prof. Paul J. Tackley I have successfully developed a code to deal with the
tracer particles. The code can be used in 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional
case.You can view some of my
research result
here. One interesting result is saved
as MOVIE ,another one is saved as
ANIMATION .
Research Abstract
Some of the most important constraints on the structure and dynamics of
the Earth's mantle arise from geochemical observations,which suggest the
presence of a number of distinct geochemical reservoirs that have maintained
their separate identities for long period(1.5-2.5 Byr). These constraints
have been underutilized by geodynamic modelers,but have led geochemists to
propose a number of mantle models which generally involve chemical layering
of the mantle. We propose to carry out numerical investigations of mantle
convection with chemical heterogeneities,in order to assess the effectiveness
of proposed dynamical mechanisms for creating, destroying and maintaining
layering or other types of geochemical reservoir(e.g. volumetric
heterogeneities). Thus,we will test the feasibility of various proposed
mantle models. The tracking of multiple chemical components will allow the
trace element and isotopic composition of erupted magmas to be
calculated,and quantitatively compared to geochemical observations,thereby
acting as a strong constraint on the applicability of resulting models to
the present-day Earth. This study will be performed using two already
existing codes on massively-parallel supercomputers. The result of such a
study may fundamentally affect our understanding of mantle structure and
dynamics,as well as linking together two normally disparate
fields:geochemistry and geodynamics. The project is related to the Planetary
Interiors focus area,constitutes the start of a long-term study,and supports
the new programmatic directions of high-performance computing and non-linear
dynamics.
Research Papers
Click here to view some
of my scientific papers, in PostScript format.
Software Development
Click here to download.
Publication:
(1) Ding,Z.Y.,X. Yang and S. Xie,Two-dimensional Numerical Modeling of the
Structural and Thermal Evolution of the Yingge Hai Basin, Abstract of 30th
International Geological Congress,Volume 1 of 3,4-14
August,1996,Beijing, China,page 352,H-2-28.
(2) Tackley,Paul J. and Shunxing Xie,
What Patterns and Lengthscales of Heterogeneity do we Expect in D"? AGU 1996
Fall meeting,Dec. 15-19,1996,San Francisco,California,USA. Page F709,T22E-4.
EOS,Transactions,AGU,1996 Fall meeting,Vol 77,No 46,Nov 12,1996/Supplement.
(3) Xie,S. and P. J. Tackley, Horizontal mixing characteristics of mantle
convection:the influence of heating mode and variable viscosity. In
preparation for GRL, 1997
(4) Xie,S. and P. J. Tackley, Isotopic Evolution of
the Mantle with Self-consistent Plate Tectonics . Gordon Conference, June 2001,
Interior of the Earth.
Shunxing Xie
3730 Midvale Ave, Apt #18
Los Angeles, CA 90034-6627
USA
Copyright(c) 1995--1997
Shunxing Xie
Send comments to sxie@ess.ucla.edu
