Variations in trace element distributions at mid-ocean ridges have often been used to constrain parameters such as melting source compositions, depth and degree of melting, and size and shape of source regions. Traditional trace element models assume some model of the melting process that, in general, do not include either the physics of magma migration or trace element transport. The purpose of this research is to investigate and quantify to what degree observable trace elements to varying parameters such as flow regime, sensitive is the behavior of trace element distribution can distinguish between different potential mantel processes. The behavior of arbitrary initial trace element distributions can be calculated for a range of physically consistent models governing the flow of melt and solid in the mantle. The following questions will be addresses. How sensitive is the behavior of trace elements to varying parameters such as flow regime, degree of melting, source characteristics, porosity/permeability structure? Can these parameters be recovered from trace element distribution observed at the surface? What are the errors in the parameters recovered using more traditional melting models?
