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Earth and Space Sciences · Glossary

What is Mantle potential temperature?

Definition 7.6 University Earth and Space Sciences — Year 2 · Chapter 7 — Melting the Mantle

The mantle potential temperature TpT_p is the temperature that a parcel of convecting mantle would have if it were brought up to the surface along the mantle adiabat, without exchanging heat and without melting.

Melting curves of dry peridotite and the water-saturated solidus from the parameterisation of Katz and others (2003), with solid adiabats for three potential temperatures; the dots mark the onset of melting, 2.08\, GPa for 1300\, C, 2.66\, GPa for 1350\, C and 4.00\, GPa for 1450\, C. Between the solidus and the lherzolite liquidus the rock melts while it keeps its clinopyroxene. Depth scale for a mantle of 3300\, kg/ m3.
Melting curves of dry peridotite and the water-saturated solidus from the parameterisation of Katz and others (2003), with solid adiabats for three potential temperatures; the dots mark the onset of melting, 2.08 GPa2.08\,\mathrm{GPa} for 1300 ∘C1300\,{}^{\circ}\mathrm{C}, 2.66 GPa2.66\,\mathrm{GPa} for 1350 ∘C1350\,{}^{\circ}\mathrm{C} and 4.00 GPa4.00\,\mathrm{GPa} for 1450 ∘C1450\,{}^{\circ}\mathrm{C}. Between the solidus and the lherzolite liquidus the rock melts while it keeps its clinopyroxene. Depth scale for a mantle of 3300 kg/m33300\,\mathrm{kg}/\mathrm{m}^{3}.
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