2011/01/25 by J. Marvin Herndon, Herndon, J. Marvin
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Geological and Geochemical Analysis #Geophysics (physics.geo-ph) #High-pressure geophysics and materials #Popular Physics (physics.pop-ph) #earthquake and tectonic studies #physics.geo-ph #physics.pop-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1101.4871
arxiv created 2011/01/25 · openalex publication_date 2011/01/25 · arxiv updated 2011/01/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Numerous attempts have been made to interpret Earth's dynamic processes based upon heat transport concepts derived from ordinary experience. But, ordinary experience can be misleading, especially when underlain by false assumptions. Geodynamic considerations traditionally have embraced three modes of heat transport: conduction, convection, and radiation. Recently, I introduced a fourth, "mantle decompression thermal tsunami" that, I submit, is responsible for emplacing heat at the base of the Earth's crust. Here, I review thermal transport within the Earth and speculate that there might be a fifth mode: "heat channeling", involving heat transport from the core to "hot-spots" such as those that power the Hawaiian Islands and Iceland.