How Could Supercontinent Cycle Modulate the Periodicity and Phase of Global Plume Heat Flux?

Supercontinent cycles are fundamental processes driving the tectonic evolution of Earth, and the periodic assembly and breakup of supercontinents may exert significant influence on global plume heat flux. Large igneous province (LIP) events provide a geological record of mantle plume activity, and their periodicity shows a striking correspondence with the periodicity of supercontinent cycles, suggesting a potential coupling between supercontinent cycles and plume activity. In this study, we employ two-dimensional spherical shell simulations using ASPECT to model the evolution of global plume heat flux, with a focus on its periodicity and phase, which are then compared with the observed periodicity and phase of LIP events. Given the uncertainties in the mode and period of supercontinent cycles, and the potentially important role of the compositionally anomalous and intrinsically dense (CAID) layer, we incorporate all three factors into our models. We then explore the conditions under which the periodicity of global plume heat flux matches the periodicity of supercontinent cycles. We find that the cycle period is the dominant control on the periodicity of global plume heat flux, while the cycle mode significantly modulates its phase. These results suggest that supercontinent cycles regulate not only the periodicity of mantle plume activity but also the timing of heat flux variations.