Julian Lowman

Interior Structure and Dynamics of Terrestrial Planets


Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences
University of Toronto Scarborough
Toronto, ON,
M1C 1A4, Canada
phone: 416 208 4880; fax: 416 287 7279
e-mail: julian.lowman@utoronto.ca

ALSO at:

Departments of Physics and Earth Sciences
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON,
M5S 1A7, Canada

Brief CV

  • B.Sc., Toronto (1990); M.Sc., York (1993); Ph.D., York (1997).

  • PDF, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA (1998-99); Lecturer, Leeds, UK (2000-05); Assistant Professor, Toronto (2006-2010); Associate Professor, Toronto (2010-16); Professor, Toronto (2016-present); Visiting Professor: U. Nantes, France (2009); U. Munster, Germany (2010); Macquarie U., Australia (2018)


Graduate Student Opportunities

Current Research Group Members

Past Students

Research Interests

Animations of mantle convection

Animations of the influence of curvature on mantle convection featuring an Arrhenius temperature-dependence on viscosity (CPS projects 2020). Ra = 3.2e4.

Animations of the influence of curvature on mantle convection featuring an Arrhenius temperature-dependence on viscosity (CPS projects 2020). Ra = 1e4.

Animations of the influence of curvature on mantle convection featuring an Arrhenius temperature-dependence on viscosity (CPS projects 2020). Ra = 3.2e3.

Animations of the influence of curvature on mantle convection featuring an Arrhenius temperature-dependence on viscosity (CPS projects 2020). Ra = 1e3.

Animations of mantle convection featuring evolving plates (JGR 2008)

Animations of mantle convection and hotspot motion (Gcubed 2004)

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Selected Publications

(Contact me at julian.lowman@utoronto.ca for an electronic copy of any post 2000 publication.)

Javaheri, P., Lowman, J.P., and P.J. Tackley, Spherical geometry convection in a fluid with an Arrhenius thermal viscosity dependence: the impact of core size and surface temperature on the scaling of stagnant-lid thickness and internal temperature, Phys. Earth. Planet Int., Vol. 349, 107157, 2024. (Additional Supplement available)

Langemeyer, S.M., Lowman, J.P., and P.J. Tackley, Contrasts in two- and three-dimensional system behaviour in the modelling of compositionally originating LLSVPs and a mantle featuring dynamically obtained plates, Geophys. J. Int., doi:10.1093/gji/ggac143, 2022. (Additional Supplement available)

Guerrero, J.M., Lowman, J.P., and P.J. Tackley, Did the cessation of convection in Mercury's mantle allow for a dynamo supporting increase in heat loss from its core? Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., Vol. 571, 117108, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117108, 2021.

Langemeyer, S.M., Lowman, J.P., and P.J. Tackley, Global mantle convection models produce transform offsets along divergent plate boundaries, Commun Earth Environ, Vol. 2, 69, https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00139-1, 2021. (Additional Supplement available)

O'Neill, C.J., Lowman, J.P., and J. Wasiliev, The effect of galactic chemical evolution on terrestrial exoplanet composition and tectonics, Icarus, Vol. 352, 114025, 2020.

Trim, S.J., Lowman, J.P., and S.L. Butler, Improving mass conservation with the tracer ratio method: application to thermochemical mantle flows, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. (Gcubed), Vol. 22, e2019GC008799, doi:10.1029/2019GC008799, 2020.

Langemeyer, S.M., Lowman, J.P., and P.J. Tackley, The dynamics and impact of compositionally originating provinces in a mantle convection model featuring rheologically obtained plates, Geophys. J. Int., Vol. 220(3), 1700-1716, doi:10.1093/gji/ggz497, 2020.

Guerrero, J.M., Lowman, J.P., and P.J. Tackley, Spurious transitions in convective regime due to viscosity clipping: ramifications for modeling planetary secular cooling, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. (Gcubed), Vol. 20, doi:10.1029/2019GC008385, 2019.

Guerrero, J.M., Lowman, J.P., Deschamps, F., and P.J. Tackley, The influence of curvature on convection in a temperature-dependent viscosity fluid: implications for the 2D and 3D modeling of moons, J. Geophys. Res.(Planets), Vol. 123, 1863-1880, doi:10.1029/2017JE005497, 2018.

Langemeyer, S.M., Lowman, J.P., and P.J. Tackley, The sensitivity of core heat flux to the modeling of plate-like surface motion, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. (Gcubed), Vol. 19, 1282-1308, doi:10.1002/2017GC007266, 2018.

Trim, S.J., and J.P. Lowman, Interaction between the supercontinent cycle and the evolution of intrinsically dense provinces in the deep mantle, J. Geophys. Res.(Solid Earth), Vol. 121, 8941-8969, doi:10.1002/2016JB013285, 2016.

Heron, P.J., Lowman, J.P., and C. Stein, Influences on the positioning of mantle plumes following supercontinent formation, J. Geophys. Res.(Solid Earth), Vol. 120, 3628-3648, doi:10.1002/2014JB011727, 2015.

Trim, S.J., Heron, P.J., Stein, C., and J.P. Lowman, The feedback between surface mobility and mantle compositional heterogeneity: implications for the Earth and other terrestrial planets, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., Vol. 405, 1-14, 2014.

Yao, C., Deschamps, F., Lowman, J.P., Sanchez, C.V., and P.J. Tackley, Stagnant-lid convection in bottom heated thin 3D-spherical shells: influence of curvature and implications for dwarf planets and icy moons, J. Geophys. Res.(Planets), doi:10.1002/2014JE004653, 2014.

Stein, C., Lowman, J.P., and U. Hansen, A comparison of mantle convection models featuring plates, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. (Gcubed), Vol. 15, doi:10.1002/2013GC005211, 2014.

Heron, P.J., and J.P. Lowman, The impact of Rayleigh number on assessing the significance of supercontinent insulation, J. Geophys. Res.(Solid Earth), Vol. 119, doi:10.1002/2013JB010484. 2014.

Quere, S., Lowman, J.P., Arkani-Hamed, J., Roberts, J., and R. Moucha, Subcontinental sinking slab remnants in a spherical geometry mantle model, J. Geophys. Res.(Solid Earth), Vol. 118(4), 1760-1777, doi:10.1002/jgrb.50102, 2013.

O'Farrell, K.A., Lowman, J.P., and H-.P. Bunge, Comparison of spherical shell and plane-layer mantle convection thermal structure in viscously stratified models with mixed-mode heating: implications for the incorporation of temperature-dependent parameters, Geophys. J. Int., Vol. 192, 456-472, doi:10.1093/gji/ggs053, 2013.

Stein, C., Lowman, J.P., and U. Hansen, The influence of mantle internal heating on lithospheric mobility: implications for super-Earths, Earth Planet Sci. Lett., Vol. 361, 448-459, 2013.

Lowman, J.P., King, S.D., and S.J. Trim, The influence of plate boundary motion on planform in viscously stratified mantle convection models, J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 116, B12402, doi:10.1029/2011JB008362, 2011.

Stein, C., Finnenkotter, A., Lowman, J.P., and U. Hansen, The pressure-weakening effect on Super-Earths: consequences of a decrease in lower mantle viscosity on the surface dynamics, Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 38, L21201, doi:10.1029/2011GL049341, 2011.

Heron, P.J., and J.P. Lowman, The effects of supercontinent size and thermal insulation on the formation of mantle plumes, Tectonophysics, Vol. 510, 28-38, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2011.07.002, 2011.

Lowman, J.P., Mantle convection models featuring plate tectonic behaviour: an overview of methods and progress, Tectonophysics, Vol. 510, 1-16, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2011.04.015, 2011.

Stein, C., and J.P. Lowman, Response of mantle heat flux to plate evolution, Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 37, L24201, doi:10.1029/2010GL045283, 2010.

Heron, P.J., and J.P. Lowman, Thermal response of the mantle following the formation of a `super-plate', Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 37, L22302, doi:10.1029/2010GL045136, 2010.

O'Farrell, K.A., and J.P. Lowman, Emulating the thermal structure of spherical shell convection in plane-layer geometry mantle convection models, Phys. Earth Planet. Int., Vol. 182, 73-84, doi:10.1016/j.pepi.2010.06.010, 2010.

Lowman, J.P., Gait, A.D., Gable, C.W., and H. Kukreja, Plumes anchored by a high viscosity lower mantle in a 3D mantle convection model featuring dynamically evolving plates , Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 35, doi:10.1029/2008GL035342, 2008.

Gait, A.D., Lowman, J.P., and C.W. Gable, Time-dependence in 3D mantle convection models featuring evolving plates: the effect of lower mantle viscosity , J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 113, B08409, doi:10.1029/2007JB005538, 2008.

Shahnas, M.H., Lowman, J.P., Jarvis, G.T., and H-.P. Bunge, Convection in a spherical shell heated by an isothermal core and internal sources: implications for the thermal state of planetary mantles, Phys. Earth Planet. Int., Vol. 168, 6-15, doi:10.1016/j.pepi.2008.04.007, 2008.

Gait, A.D., and J.P. Lowman, Effect of lower mantle viscosity on the time-dependence of plate velocities in three-dimensional mantle convection models , Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 34, L21304, doi:10.1029/2007GL031396, 2007.

Lowman, J.P., Pinero-Feliciangeli, L.T., Kendall, J.-M., and M.H., Shahnas, Influence of convergent plate boundaries on upper mantle flow and implications for seismic anisotropy , Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. (Gcubed), Vol. 8, Q08007, doi:10.1029/2007GC001627, 2007.

Gait, A.D., and J.P. Lowman, Time-dependence in mantle convection models featuring dynamically evolving plates, Geophys. J. Int., Vol. 171, 463-477, doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X, 2007.

Jarvis, G.T., and J.P. Lowman, Survival times of subducted slab remnants in numerical models of mantle flow , Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., Vol. 260, 23-36, 2007.

Nettelfield, D., and J.P. Lowman, The influence of plate-like surface motion on upwelling dynamics in numerical mantle convection models , Phys. Earth Planet. Int., Vol. 161, 184-201, 2007.

Jarvis, G.T., and J.P. Lowman, Sinking slabs below fossil subduction zones , Phys. Earth Planet. Int., Vol. 152, 103-115, 2005.

Koglin Jr., D. E., Ghias, S., King, S.D., Jarvis, G.T., and J. P. Lowman, Mantle Convection with Mobile Plates: A Benchmark Study , Geochem., Geophys., Geosyst. (G-cubed), 6(1), 10.129/2005GC000924, 2005.

Thomas, C., Kendall, J-.M., and J.P. Lowman, Lower-mantle seismic discontinuities and the thermal morphology of subducted slabs , Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2004.05.038, 2004.

Lowman, J.P., King, S.D., and C.W. Gable, Steady plumes in viscously stratified, vigorously convecting, 3D numerical mantle convection models with mobile plates , Geochem., Geophys., Geosyst. (G-cubed), Vol. 5, Q01L01, doi:10.1029/2003GC000583, 2004.

Lowman, J.P., King, S.D., and C.W. Gable, The role of the heating mode of the mantle in intermittent reorganisation of the plate velocity field , Geophys. J. Int., Vol. 152, 455-467, 2003.

King, S.D., Lowman, J.P., and C.W. Gable, Episodic tectonic plate reorganizations driven by mantle convection , Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., Vol. 203, 83-91, 2002.

Lowman, J.P., King, S.D., and C.W. Gable, The influence of tectonic plates on mantle convection patterns, temperature and heat flow , Geophys. J. Int., Vol. 146, 619-636, 2001.

Lowman, J.P., and C.W. Gable, Thermal evolution of the mantle following continental aggregation in 3D convection models, Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 26, 2649-2652, 1999.

Lowman, J.P., and G.T. Jarvis, Effects of mantle heat source distribution on continental stability, J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 104, 12,733-12,746, 1999.

Lowman, J.P., and G.T. Jarvis, Continental collisions in wide aspect ratio and high Rayleigh number two-dimensional mantle convection models, J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 101, 25,485-25,497, 1996.

Lowman, J.P., and G.T. Jarvis, Mantle convection models of continental collisions and breakup incorporating finite thickness plates, Phys. Earth Planet. Int., Vol. 88, 53-68, 1995.

Lowman, J.P., and G.T. Jarvis, Mantle convection flow reversals due to continental collisions, Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 20, 2087-2090, 1993.

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Contact details

Julian Lowman, Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, Canada, M1C 1A4

tel: (+1) 416 208 4880; fax: (+1) 416 287 7279; e-mail: julian.lowman@utoronto.ca

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