A series of computations were carried out to study the effect of crystal rotation rate on the melt-crystal interface shape and temperature gradient at the interface during CZ-Si crystal growth in a transverse magnetic field (TMCZ). A three-dimensional (3D) global model was used in this study. It was found that the interface deflection changes from non-uniformity in the azimuthal direction to an axisymmetric distribution with increasing crystal rotation rate. The mechanism of this effect is mainly attributed to the spatial fluctuations of local growth rate, which is derived as a function of crystal rotation rate and non-uniformity of interface deflection in the azimuthal direction. It contributes to the formation of the shape of the melt-crystal interface through the heat release of solidification at the melt-crystal interface. Even though the melt-crystal interface shape is nearly axisymmetric at a high crystal rotation rate, local growth rate fluctuations are still noticeable and play an important role in the characteristics of heat transfer and impurity segregation at the melt-crystal interface. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.