Mode 1 Mantle Convection in Tidally-locked Rocky Exoplanets

Statistics – Computation

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

[0545] Computational Geophysics / Modeling, [3621] Mineralogy And Petrology / Mantle Processes, [5400] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets

Scientific paper

Exoplanet detection techniques, such as radial velocity and transit searches, tend to favor the discovery of short-period planets. These planets are close enough to the host star to develop tidally-locked orbits. Previous workers have modeled the effect of tidal locking on magnetospheres and global climate patterns. Here we investigate the effect of synchronous rotation on the mantle convective structure of various sized Earth-like planets. We use a spherical axisymmetric version of the finite element code ConMan called SSAXC, with boundary conditions that accept radiative heat from the star and in turn radiate as a black body. We identify three punctuating evolutionary regimes in Earth-like models: (1) a series of downwellings initially form at the substellar point, antistellar point, and at the terminator; (2) after ˜250,000 years, lithospheric instabilities induce pervasive small-scale convective cells; (3) after ˜3.5 billion years, a cool sink forms at the antistellar point, eventually spanning the depth of the mantle and forming a pseudo-Mode 1 convective pattern. We apply these models to planets receiving higher stellar fluxes, with a specific focus on the Gliese 581 system. These results are particularly significant for understanding the potential habitability of tidally-locked Super-Earths.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Mode 1 Mantle Convection in Tidally-locked Rocky Exoplanets does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Mode 1 Mantle Convection in Tidally-locked Rocky Exoplanets, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mode 1 Mantle Convection in Tidally-locked Rocky Exoplanets will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1772141

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.