Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Probing the Structure and Dynamics of Interfacial Water with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Published on: May 27, 2018
The Effect of H2O on the 410-Kilometer Seismic Discontinuity
Abstract:
The 410-kilometer seismic discontinuity is generally considered to be caused by a phase transformation of the main constituent of the upper mantle, olivine, alpha-(Mg,Fe)(2)SiO(4), to beta-(Mg,Fe)(2)SiO(4). Recent data show that H(2)O dissolves in olivine and other nominally anhydrous mantle minerals and that the partitioning of H(2)O between olivine and beta-(Mg,Fe)(2)SiO(4) is about 1:10. Such behavior strongly affects the region over which the alpha to beta phase transformation occurs and hence the seismic discontinuity that results. The observed width of the discontinuity constrains the maximum H(2)O content of upper mantle olivine to about 200 parts per million by weight.
Related Concept Videos
Effect of Sea Water on Concrete
Concrete in areas between tide marks, which undergo...
Hess's Law
Shock Waves
When the source's speed approaches the speed of sound, constructive interference between successive wavefronts emitted by the source occurs immediately behind it. Initially, scientists believed that this constructive interference would result in such high pressures...
Solubility Equilibria: Ionic Product of Water
The ionic product of water varies with temperature, and its value is 1.0 x 10−14 at standard experimental conditions. Per Le Chatelier's...
Deriving the Speed of Sound in a Liquid
The speed of sound in fluids can be derived by considering a mechanical wave propagating...
Leveling Effect
