True polar wander affects the Earth dynamic topography and favours a highly viscous lower mantle

Abstract. True Polar Wander (TPW), the global motion of the Earth's mantle relative to the axis of rotation, is considered for its impact on the degree 2 surface dynamic topography induced by mass anomalies in a viscously stratified mantle. These sources, responsible for a geoid and topographic signal at the Earth's surface, mimic the effects of subductions and other thermal instabilities on long-term Earth's rotation. A rotating, viscous planet has the ability to displace the axis of rotation with respect to internal mass anomalies in order to ...