Geo-neutrinos and Earth Models

TL;DR

This paper reviews current geo-neutrino measurements and discusses how they inform models of Earth's interior, highlighting the potential of ocean-based observatories and refined crust estimates to better understand mantle radiogenic heating.

Contribution

It introduces the role of geo-neutrino measurements in distinguishing Earth models and emphasizes the importance of ocean-based observatories and crust flux refinements.

Findings

Ocean-based observatories have high sensitivity to mantle flux.

Refined crust flux estimates reduce measurement uncertainties.

Combined measurements can resolve different Earth models.

Abstract

We present the current status of geo-neutrino measurements and their implications for radiogenic heating in the mantle. Earth models predict different levels of radiogenic heating and, therefore, different geo-neutrino fluxes from the mantle. Seismic tomography reveals features in the deep mantle possibly correlated with radiogenic heating and causing spatial variations in the mantle geo-neutrino flux at the Earth surface. An ocean-based observatory offers the greatest sensitivity to the mantle flux and potential for resolving Earth models and mantle features. Refinements to estimates of the geo-neutrino flux from continental crust reduce uncertainty in measurements of the mantle flux, especially measurements from land-based observatories. These refinements enable the resolution of Earth models using the combined measurements from multiple continental observatories.