Thermal Structure and Lithospheric Mobility of Super-Earths

Statistics – Computation

Scientific paper

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[0560] Computational Geophysics / Numerical Solutions, [6207] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Comparative Planetology, [8147] Tectonophysics / Planetary Interiors, [8155] Tectonophysics / Plate Motions: General

Scientific paper

In recent years the understanding of the structure and dynamics of super-Earth exoplanets has attracted a lot of interest. In particular, the possibility of plate tectonics on Super-Earths has received considerable attention. Terrestrial planets with higher masses than the Earth are assumed to have higher Rayleigh numbers, heating rates and viscosity contrasts than the Earth which will affect the surface mobility. Utilizing two-dimensional numerical mantle convection models we study the effect of these parameters on the thermal structure and lithospheric mobility of super-Earths. In our models we allow for plate-like surface behaviour by considering temperature- and pressure-dependent viscosity in combination with either a stress-dependent rheology or the force-balance method. Our results reveal the strong influence of these parameters on the surface behaviour. The controlling parameter for the observed transition from mobile-lid to stagnant-lid convection is the heating rate. We show that for a parameter set assumed to be relevant for super-Earth exoplanets stagnant-lid convection prevails.

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