My main scientific interest lies in the simulation of convective pro- cesses in the Earth and terrestrial planets. In the past I have developed numerical mantle convection models with complex rheologies to study mantle dynamics and tectonic processes. We found that the surface motion is closely linked to thermal and chemical structures in the deep mantle. The presence of long-lived compositional reservoirs in the lowermost mantle has a profound impact on the thermochemical evolution of the mantle. In my most recent work we analysed compositional heterogeneities, which are regarded as remnants of the magma ocean phase from Earth’s accretion. The aim of this project is to better understand the settling of impact-delivered metal in the magma ocean phase.
MODELLING MAGMA OCEAN