Non-Linear Effects of Gravity Change on Mantle Dynamics

Starting from observed variations of the length of day in the past 2.5 billion years, we calculate the corresponding gravity variation and evaluate the possible effects that such variation would have induced on the lithosphere and on mantle convection. The lithospheric stress induced by the observed gravity increase at the equator in 500 Ma is of the same order as the one associated with a convective cell. We model a gravity increase that would result in 1.3 × 10−2 µGal or 1.3 × 10−10 m s−2 over 10 years, a value that is not far from the detection thresholds of modern gravimeters. Gravity increase also affects mantle dynamics by improving convection efficiency. Our models demonstrate that gravity variations contribute to this phenomenon through faster and wider mixing. The results support a view where a convective system being subject to gravity changes responds through non-linear adjustments of its effective mixing at all scales. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how gravitational fluctuations may shape the behavior of Earth’s dynamic systems over geological timescales.