Simulating the Earth’s mysterious mantle

Scientists are taking advantage of an $2.5 million NSF grant to develop a new framework for integrated geodynamic models that simulate the Earth’s molten core. “Most physical phenomena can be described by partial differential equations that explain energy balances or loss,” said Heister, an associate professor of mathematical sciences who will receive $393,000 of the overall funding. “My geoscience colleagues will develop the equations to describe the phenomena and I’ll write the algorithms that solve their equations quickly and accurately.”