The Influence of Partial Melt on Mantle Convection

The thermo-chemical evolution of a one-plate planet like Mars strongly influences its atmospheric evolution via volcanic outgassing, which is linked to the production of partial melt in the mantle. In earlier thermal evolution and convection models melt production has been considered by the release and consumption of latent heat, the formation of crust and the redistribution of radioactive heat sources. We present thermo-chemical 2D convection models that examine the influence of partial melt on the mantle dynamics of a one-plate planet such as Mars. Assuming fractional melting, where melt leaves the system as soon as it is formed, cooling boundary conditions and decaying radioactive elements, we investigate the effects of partial melt on the melting temperature, mantle density and viscosity. In the present study, we examine the influence of these effects on the mantle dynamics of Mars