“Snowfall” in Earth’s core and the natureof the inner-core boundary

Jeffrey Pigott – Mineral Physics (Ohio State) Jackie Li – Mineral Physics (U of Michigan)Bin Chen – Mineral Physics ( U of Michigan)Matt Armentrout – Mineral Physics (UCLA)

Antonio Buono – Mineral Physics (MIT)John Hernlund – Geodynamics (UC-Berkeley)Jodi Gaeman – Geodynamics (U of Maryland)

Lauren Waszek – Seismology (Cambridge)

CIDER 2010 - KITP

Outer Core

Inner Core

F-layer

PREMAK135PREM2

Zou et al., 2008 (JGR)

Chen et al., 2008 (GRL)Hauck et al., 2006 (JGR)

Nov 2010 Equations of state,

melting curves, compositional gradients

Project still broadly defined in terms of interdisciplinary aspect

MP meeting (Ann Arbor)/2010 Fall AGU

MP meeting (Ann Arbor, Nov 2011) Parameter space for

“snowing” using seismic, experimental, and theoretical constraints Snowing – Fe-S, Fe-C?,

Fe-Si? No snow – Pure Fe, Fe-

H, likely Fe-C and Fe-Si

Relationship between melting curve and adiabat

Can solid/liquid fraction account for Vp gradient?

Top

of F

-laye

r

Geodynamics

Evolution of thermal, compositonal, and structural profiles with time

Stability of F-layer

Origin of stratified layer

Comments and Suggestions

Defined leadership role

Positives Easy exchange among different disciplines at CIDER Helpful interaction within MP sub-group

Collaboration that otherwise would not have occurred

Negatives Difficulty following up with interdisciplinary communication

Short (~3-5 day) semi-annual workshops for established groups Difficulty generating a concrete product

Viewed as a “side-project”