On the effects of higher convection modes on the thermal evolution of small planetary bodies

Details On the effects of higher convection modes on the thermal evolution of small planetary bodies On the effects of higher convection modes on the thermal evolution of small planetary bodies

Jun 1979

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1979m%26p....20..397a&link_type=abstract

Moon and the Planets, vol. 20, June 1979, p. 397-413.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Convective Heat Transfer, Lithosphere, Planetary Evolution, Planetary Structure, Adiabatic Conditions, Astronomical Models, Graphs (Charts), Harmonic Analysis

Scientific paper

The effects of higher modes of convection on the thermal evolution of a small planetary body is investigated. Three sets of models are designed to specify an initially cold and differentiated, an initially hot and differentiated, and an initially cold and undifferentiated Moon-type body. The strong temperature dependence of viscosity enhances the thickening of lithosphere so that a lithosphere of about 400 km thickness is developed within the first billion years of the evolution of a Moon-type body. The thermally isolating effect of such a lithosphere hampers the heat flux out of the body and increases the temperature of the interior, causing the solid-state convection to occur with high velocity so that even the lower modes of convection can maintain an adiabatic temperature gradient there. It is demonstrated that the effect of solid-state convection on the thermal evolution of the models may be adequately determined by a combination of convection modes up to the third or the fourth order harmonic. The inclusion of higher modes does not affect the results significantly.

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