Convection in the Earth’s mantle is associated with two thermal boundary layers: the Earth’s thermal lithosphere and a layer above the core-mantle boundary, generally considered the source of plumes. Classical convection theory, often applied to thermal-tectonic history modeling, assumes that convective boundary layers do not interact and their dynamics are self-determined. However, present-day observations of plumes reaching the lithosphere and slabs sinking to the core–mantle boundary indicate that boundary layer interactions are a component of mantle dynamics. Whether this was the case over Earth’s history motivates the 3D thermal convection simulations herein. We investigate boundary layer interactions to determine: (1) The level of convective vigor, measured by the Rayleigh number, at which interactions peak; (2) The level at which interactions cease; (3) Whether interactions are responsible for deviations in convective scalings from classical theory predictions. We found that interactions peak near a Rayleigh number of . Beyond that, they decrease, but changes in convective planform led to local peaks. Classical scaling theory for heat flux and velocity is not recovered until Rayleigh numbers exceed , after which the convective planform remains in a chaotic plume regime and interactions continually decrease. We attribute deviations from classic theory to these interactions altering boundary layer structure from what would be observed if their dynamics were self-determined. We demonstrate that the deviations are not solely due to thermal effects, but also mechanical effects. We found that interactions are at a peak near present-day mantle conditions. We discuss implications for geodynamics and mantle evolution.
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