Parmentier, Edgar

Edgar M Parmentier

Professor Emeritus of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Professor of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences (Research)

Overview

I received my B.S. in Engineering and Mathematics at West Virginia University in 1967. I went on to get my M.S. in Engineering (1969) and my Ph.D. in Geophysics (1975), both from Cornell University. After completing research fellowship at Oxford University, I came to Brown University in 1977 as an Assistant Professor of Research. I teach courses related to continuum physics of the earth and planets, the physics of planetary evolution, and the application of numerical methods in geodynamics. During his time at Brown, I have held research appointments at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC/San Diego. In 1990, I became full professor in the Department of Geological Sciences.

Brown Affiliations

Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences

Research Areas

Publications Visualize it

Baltzell, Conroy, Parmentier, E. M., Liang, Yan, Tirupathi, Seshu. "A high-order numerical study of reactive dissolution in an upwelling heterogeneous mantle: 2. Effect of shear deformation." Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, vol. 16, no. 11, 2015, pp. 3855-3869.

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Havlin, C., Parmentier, E. M. "Implications for melt transport and source heterogeneity in upwelling mantle from the magnitude of S p converted phases generated at the onset of melting." Geophys. Res. Lett., vol. 41, no. 15, 2014, pp. 5444-5450.

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Zhang, Nan, Parmentier, E. M., Liang, Yan. "A 3-D numerical study of the thermal evolution of the Moon after cumulate mantle overturn: The importance of rheology and core solidification." Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 2013, pp. n/a-n/a.

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Havlin, C., Parmentier, E.M., Hirth, G. "Dike propagation driven by melt accumulation at the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary." Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 376, 2013, pp. 20-28.

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Zhang, Nan, Parmentier, E. M., Liang, Yan. "Effects of lunar cumulate mantle overturn and megaregolith on the expansion and contraction history of the Moon." Geophys. Res. Lett., vol. 40, no. 19, 2013, pp. 5019-5023.

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Schiemenz, Alan, Liang, Yan, Parmentier, E. M. "A high-order numerical study of reactive dissolution in an upwelling heterogeneous mantle-I. Channelization, channel lithology and channel geometry." Geophys. J. Int., vol. 186, no. 2, 2011, pp. 641-664.

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Hesse, M. A., Schiemenz, A. R., Liang, Y., Parmentier, E. M. "Compaction-dissolution waves in an upwelling mantle column." Geophys. J. Int., vol. 187, no. 3, 2011, pp. 1057-1075.

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Liang, Yan, Schiemenz, Alan, Hesse, Marc A., Parmentier, E. M. "Waves, channels, and the preservation of chemical heterogeneities during melt migration in the mantle." Geophys. Res. Lett., vol. 38, no. 20, 2011, pp. n/a-n/a.

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Liang, Y., Parmentier, E. M. "A Two-Porosity Double Lithology Model for Partial Melting, Melt Transport and Melt-rock Reaction in the Mantle: Mass Conservation Equations and Trace Element Transport." Journal of Petrology, vol. 51, no. 1-2, 2010, pp. 125-152.

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Liang, Yan, Schiemenz, Alan, Hesse, Marc A., Parmentier, E. Marc, Hesthaven, Jan S. "High-porosity channels for melt migration in the mantle: Top is the dunite and bottom is the harzburgite and lherzolite." Geophys. Res. Lett., vol. 37, no. 15, 2010, pp. n/a-n/a.

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Choblet, G., Parmentier, E.M. "Thermal convection heated both volumetrically and from below: Implications for predictions of planetary evolution." Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, vol. 173, no. 3-4, 2009, pp. 290-296.

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van Keken, Peter E., Currie, Claire, King, Scott D., Behn, Mark D., Cagnioncle, Amandine, He, Jiangheng, Katz, Richard F., Lin, Shu-Chuan, Parmentier, E. Marc, Spiegelman, Marc, Wang, Kelin. "A community benchmark for subduction zone modeling." Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, vol. 171, no. 1-4, 2008, pp. 187-197.

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Stanley, S., Elkins-Tanton, L., Zuber, M. T., Parmentier, E. M. "Mars' Paleomagnetic Field as the Result of a Single-Hemisphere Dynamo." Science, vol. 321, no. 5897, 2008, pp. 1822-1825.

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Parmentier, E. M., Zuber, M. T. "Early evolution of Mars with mantle compositional stratification or hydrothermal crustal cooling." J. Geophys. Res., vol. 112, no. E2, 2007.

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Cagnioncle, Amandine-Marie, Parmentier, E. M., Elkins-Tanton, Linda T. "Effect of solid flow above a subducting slab on water distribution and melting at convergent plate boundaries." J. Geophys. Res., vol. 112, no. B9, 2007.

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Phipps Morgan, J., Hasenclever, Jörg, Hort, M., Rüpke, L., Parmentier, E. M. "On subducting slab entrainment of buoyant asthenosphere." Terra Nova, vol. 19, no. 3, 2007, pp. 167-173.

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Elkins-Tanton, L. T., Smrekar, S. E., Hess, P. C., Parmentier, E. M. "Volcanism and volatile recycling on a one-plate planet: Applications to Venus." J. Geophys. Res., vol. 112, no. E4, 2007.

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Elkins-Tanton, L.T., Zaranek, S.E., Parmentier, E.M., Hess, P.C. "Early magnetic field and magmatic activity on Mars from magma ocean cumulate overturn." Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 236, no. 1-2, 2005, pp. 1-12.

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Zaranek, Sarah E. "Convective cooling of an initially stably stratified fluid with temperature-dependent viscosity: Implications for the role of solid-state convection in planetary evolution." J. Geophys. Res., vol. 109, no. B3, 2004.

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Zaranek, Sarah E., Parmentier, E.M. "The onset of convection in fluids with strongly temperature-dependent viscosity cooled from above with implications for planetary lithospheres." Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 224, no. 3-4, 2004, pp. 371-386.

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ELKINS-TANTON, Linda T., PARMENTIER, E. M., HESS, P. C. "Magma ocean fractional crystallization and cumulate overturn in terrestrial planets: Implications for Mars." Meteoritics & Planetary Science, vol. 38, no. 12, 2003, pp. 1753-1771.

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Research

Research Overview

My research centers on understanding the roles of melting, melt migration, and mantle dynamics on the long-term evolution of the interior of the Earth and other planetary bodies. This includes convective motions that give rise to largest scales of mantle overturn, that we associate with plate tectonics on the Earth, as well as smaller scales of motion associated with intraplate and plate boundary volcanism. An understanding of the physics and scaling laws governing these processes allows predictions of planetary behavior which can be compared with available observations.

Research Statement

Fluid-like deformations of the solid Earth and planets on geological time scales occurs due to thermally-activated creep driven by buoyancy forces that arise both from differences in temperature as well as variations in chemical composition. Differences in composition arise from melting and the extraction of melt. Even with the high viscosity of the solid mantle, convective motions are fast compared to the time for heat to be conducted over appreciable distances. These rapid, highly time-dependent or turbulent convective motions occur over a range of spatial and temporal scales. Convective motions give rise to the large scale mantle overturn that we associate with plate tectonics as well as smaller scales of motion associated with intraplate and plate boundary volcanism. Theoretical models and numerical experiments developed in the context of geological and geophysical observations allow an assessment of the role of these processes in the evolution of the Earth and planets.

Funded Research

Examples of Recently Funded Research Projects:
Oceanic Intraplate Volcanism: Mechanism and Observations; NSF Ocean Sciences.

Petrology and Physics of Magma Ocean Crystallization (Linda Elkins-Tanton, Co-PI); NASA Mars Fundamental Research Program.

Developing a Multiscale Model for Melting and Melt Migration in the Mantle; Collaborations in Mathematical Geosciences (Yan Liang, Co-PI); NSF Geophysics Program.

Upgrade of Brown computing facilities for integrated study of mantle structure, dynamics and melting; NSF EAR Instrumentation and Facilities.

Physics of Planetary Evolution; NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program.

Melting, melt migration and volcanism at convergent plate boundaries: NSF Ocean Sciences, Marine Geology and Geophysics Program.

Scholarly Work

Yan Liang and E.M. Parmentier, A two-porosity double lithology model for partial melting, melt transport and melt-rock reaction in the mantle: mass conservation and trace element transport, in press, Journal of Petrology, (2010).

A.-M. Cagnioncle, E.M. Parmentier, A.E. Saal, U-series systematics at convergent margins, in preparation (2010).

E.M. Parmentier, L.T. Elkins Tanton, and P.C. Hess, Solid-liquid segregation during magma ocean solidification: implications for longterm planetary evolution, in preparation (2010).

Yan Liang and E.M. Parmentier, A two-porosity double lithology model for partial melting, melt transport and melt-rock reaction in the mantle: The nature of channel melt and the role of mtrix dissolution, to be submitted to the Journal of Petrology, (2009).

A.-M. Cagnioncle, E.M. Parmentier, A.E. Saal, U-series systematics at convergent margins, in preparation (2009).

G. Choblet and E. M. Parmentier, Thermal convection heated both volumetrically and from below: implications for predictions of planetary evolution, in press, Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors (2009).

E.M. Parmentier, L.T. Elkins Tanton, and P.C. Hess, Solid-liquid segregation during magma ocean solidification: implications for longterm planetary evolution (2009).

Stanley, S., L. Elkins-Tanton, M. T. Zuber, E. M., Parmentier, Mars' Paleomagnetic Field as the Result of a Single-Hemisphere Dynamo, Science 321, 1822-1825, 10.1126/science.1161119, 2008.

A.-M. Cagnioncle, P.B. Kelemen, E.M. Parmentier, A.E. Saal, The Aleutians: a case study for fluid migration and melt production models at convergent plate boundaries, submitted to Geology (2008).

J. Phipps Morgan, J. Hasenclever, M. Hort, L. Rupke, and E. M. Parmentier, On subducting slab entrainment of buoyant asthenosphere, Terra Nova, 19, 167–173, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3121.2007.00737.x (2007).

E.M. Parmentier, The Dynamics and Convective Evolution of the Oceanic Upper Mantle, in Treatise on Geophysics, Chapter 7, (eds. G. Schubert and D. Bercovici), 305-323 (2007).

E. M. Parmentier and M. T. Zuber, Early evolution of Mars with mantle compositional stratification or hydrothermal crustal cooling, J. Geophys. Res., 112, E02007, doi:10.1029/2005JE002626 (2007).

A.-M. Cagnioncle, E.M. Parmentier, and L.T. Elkins Tanton, The effect of solid flow above a subducting slab on the water distribution and melting at convergent plate boundaries J. Geophys. Res., 112, B09402, doi:10.1029/2007JB004934 (2007).

Background

Education and Training

Year	Degree	Institution
1975	PhD	Cornell University
1969	MA	Cornell University
1967	BS	West Virginia University

Honors and Awards

Tau Beta Pi 1968
National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow 1967-68
Ford Foundation Fellow 1967-68
Green Fellow 1985
American Geophysical Union Fellow elected 1995

EGU Love medal reciient

Teaching

Teaching Overview

GEOL 1620: Continuum Physics of the Solid Earth

GEOL 1810: Physics of Planetary Evolution

GEOL 1950: Computational Approaches to Modeling and Quantitative Analysis in the Natural Sciences

GEOL 2520: Numerical Geodynamics

GEOL 2920: Physics of Melt Migration

GEOL 2920: Rheological Boundaries in the Earth (w/Greg Hirth)

ADVISING:
Current Graduate Students:
Conroy Baltzell (co-advising with Prof. Yan Liang)
Christopher Havlin
Takamasa Kanaya (co-advising with Prof. Greg Hirth)
Dan Paulsen (joint with Applied Mathematics)
Yin Ran (co-advising with Profs. Hirth and Liang)

Examples of research with PhD students:

M. T. Zuber: Unstable deformation in layered media: application to planetary lithospheres, Ph.D. 1986. Currently Deparment Head and Professor, Department of Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, MIT.

J. Phipps Morgan: The dynamics of midocean ridges, Ph.D. 1986. Currently Professor, Deparment of Geological Sciences, Cornell University.

Jian Lin: Surface topography due to convection in a variable viscosity fluid, M.Sc.1984; Mechanisms of non-elastic extension of lithospheres, Ph.D. 1988. Currently Senior Research Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

David Sparks: Mantle flow and the generation and segmentation of magma beneath spreading centers, Ph.D. 1992. Currently Associate Professor, Texas A&M University.

Kopal Jha: Mantle convection beneath ridges and rifts, Ph.D. 1996.

Chad Hall: The physics of deformation processes in mantle dynamics â" Ph.D. 2001. Currently Research Associate, Department of Geological Sciences, CalTech.

Daynathie Weeraratne: Behavior of asthenosphere beneath oceans and continents - Ph.D. 2004. Currently Assistant Professor, California State Northridge.

Sarah Zaranak: Convective instability and planetary evolution - Ph.D. 2005. Currently Applications Engineer, Mathworks.

Amandine Cagnioncle - Ph.D. 2009

Teaching

GEOL 1620 - Continuum Physics of the Solid Earth

GEOL 2920Y - Seminar on Melting and Melt Distribution in the Mantle

Researchers@Brown

Researchers@Brown

Edgar M Parmentier

Professor Emeritus of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Professor of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences (Research)

Overview

Brown Affiliations

Research Areas

Publications Visualize it

Research

Research Overview

Research Statement

Funded Research

Scholarly Work

Background

Education and Training

Honors and Awards

Affiliations Visualize it

Affiliations

Teaching

Teaching Overview

Teaching