| Abstract: | Indirect observations and theoretical predictions for the period of the free core nutation (FCN) differ by anywhere from 15 to 30 days, and various effects have been invoked in attempts to explain this difference. The favored explanation remains as much as 5% departure in the flattening of the core-mantle boundary (CMB) from that of its hydrostatic reference figure. This 5% ‘extra-flattening’ of the CMB is not seen at the Earth's surface, where the difference is only about 0.5%. In contrast to the a posteriori model adjustments used to determine this up to 5% value, and the kinematic results available from viscous flow modeling using the seismically determined lateral heterogeneity in density data, we consider this problem from the perspective of a forward-modeling dynamical study. More specifically, we investigate the related problem of flow-induced surface and CMB topography, arising from convection in the mantle. As such, we have completed a comparative and systematic study of relative surface and CMB topography resulting from numerical models of mantle convection. When effects resulting from boundary curvature are isolated, it appears that the magnitude of CMB topography produced is insufficient in producing a significant extra-flattening of the CMB. However, results concerning effects solely resulting from a depth-dependent mantle viscosity profile, indicate that this factor may indeed lead to enhanced topography at the CMB of the magnitude required to produce the extra-flattening there. |
