Mantle viscosity inference: a comparison between Simulated Annealing and Neighbourhood Algorithm inversion methods

• Main Authors: Piana Agostinetti, N., Spada, G., Cianetti, S.
• Other Authors: Piana Agostinetti, N.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione CNT, Roma, Italia, Spada, G.; Università di Urbino, Cianetti, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione ONT, Roma, Italia, Università di Urbino, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley-Blackwell 2004
• Subjects: mantle viscosity; simulated annealing; neighbourhood algorithm; postglacial rebound; 04. Solid Earth::04.01. Earth Interior::04.01.03. Mantle and Core dynamics; Hudson; Hudson Bay
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7899; https://doi.org/10.1111/j.136-246X.2004.02237.x

Two direct search methods, simulated annealing and neighbourhood algorithm, are applied to the inversion of the viscosity profile of the mantle using relative sea level time-histories for the Hudson Bay region. In problems characterized by a low-dimensional model space (Nd = 2 in this study), the two inversion methods show comparable performances. When a larger number of dimensions is involved (specifically Nd = 6), we directly show that simulated annealing is less effective than neighbourhood algorithm in overcoming the obstacles that are found in the model space when our specific data set is employed. This study confirms that modifications of the conventional Monte Carlo inversion method, such as simulated annealing and neighbourhood algorithm, are viable tools to determine the viscosity profile of the mantle, which, until recently, has been mainly tackled by means of linearized techniques. Published 890-900 3.3. Geodinamica e struttura dell'interno della Terra JCR Journal restricted