Geodynamics and Rate of Volcanism on Massive Earth-like Planets

Details Geodynamics and Rate of Volcanism on Massive Earth-like Planets Geodynamics and Rate of Volcanism on Massive Earth-like Planets

Dec 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008agufm.p13c1327k&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2008, abstract #P13C-1327

Physics

0545 Modeling (4255), 5215 Origin Of Life, 5430 Interiors (8147), 5480 Volcanism (6063, 8148, 8450)

Scientific paper

We provide estimates of volcanism versus time for planets with Earth-like composition and masses up to 25 times Earth, as a step toward predicting atmospheric mass on extrasolar rocky planets. We use a thermal evolution model, calibrated against Earth, in combination with standard melting models, to explore the dependence of convection-driven decompression mantle melting on planet mass. We find:- (1) volcanism is likely to proceed on massive planets with plate tectonics over the main-sequence lifetime of the parent star; (2) crustal thickness (and melting rate normalized to planet mass) is weakly dependent on planet mass; (3) stagnant lid planets can have higher rates of melting than their plate tectonic counterparts early in their thermal evolution, but melting shuts down after a few Gyr; (4) plate tectonics may not operate on high mass planets because of their production of buoyant crust which is difficult to subduct; and (5) melting is necessary but insufficient for efficient volcanic degassing; volatiles partition into the earliest, deepest melts, which may be denser than the residue and sink to the base of the mantle on young, massive planets. Magma must also crystallize at or near the surface, and the pressure of overlying volatiles must be fairly low, if volatiles are to reach the surface.

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