Effects of melting upon thermal models of the Earth

Investigation into the problem of melting within the earth strongly indicates that melting has taken place within the outer layers of the earth at some time in the earth's history. Fluid convection should then have occurred and have been an efficient method of heat transfer. Numerical methods are developed for calculating the temperature distribution within a spherical body which melts according to a simple melting curve and which convects with the limiting case of high efficiency. These techniques are applied to mathematical models of the earth's mantle. The calculations provide starting conditions for an approach to the problem of the differentiation of radioactive materials within the earth.