The geodynamics of super-sized Earths

Details The geodynamics of super-sized Earths The geodynamics of super-sized Earths

Dec 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007agufm.p41a0206o&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2007, abstract #P41A-0206

Physics

5455 Origin And Evolution, 5475 Tectonics (8149)

Scientific paper

The habitability of a planet is strongly contingent on its tectonic regime. Recently, the discovery of giant Earth-like planets has led to speculation on their surface conditions and dynamics. Here we explore the tectonic regimes of super-sized Earths, which are a function of the balance between driving forces, and the resistive strength of the lithosphere. We use mantle convection simulations to show that simply increasing planetary radius acts to decrease the ratio of driving to resisting stresses, and thus super-sized Earths are likely to be in an episodic or stagnant lid regime. This effect is robust when associated increases in gravity are included, as the more dominant effect is increased fault strength rather than greater buoyancy forces. The thermo-tectonic evolution of large terrestrial planets is more complex than often assumed, and this has implications for the surface and conditions habitability of such worlds.

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