Physics – Geophysics
Scientific paper
Mar 1994
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994georl..21..465r&link_type=abstract
Geophysical Research Letters (ISSN 0094-8276), vol. 21, no. 6, p. 465-468
Physics
Geophysics
10
Earth (Planet), Earth Surface, Elevation, Hypsography, Planetary Temperature, Topography, Venus (Planet), Venus Surface, Comparison, Magellan Project (Nasa), Planets, Earth, Venus, Comparison, Hypsometry, Distribution, Mantle, Topography, Hypsometric Curve, Elevation, Thermal Effects, Lithosphere, Thickness, Analysis, Geophysics, Tectonics, Hypotheses, Isostasy
Scientific paper
The comparison between Earth and Venus global hypsometric distributions is reinvestigated on the basis of the high-resolution data provided by the recent Magellan global topographic coverage of Venus' surface, and the detailed ETOPO-5 topographic database for the Earth's surface. The study of the cumulative hypsometric curve for both planets reveals that there exists a domain of elevation for which the relationship between the elevation and the square root of cumulative area percentage is linear. This domain covers about 80% of the mapped venusian surface and nearly all the terrestrial oceanic surface (55% of the earth's surface) and corresponds to an elevation range of about 2000 m for both planets. Proposing the upper threshold elevation of this domain as a common geophysical reference level, it is shown that the terrestrial oceanic peak and the venusian peak coincide very closely. In addition, the terrestrial and venusian hypsometric distributions for elevations lower than this reference level are quite similar, in their amplitude, modal distribution, and pronounced symmetry. The correspondence of the venusian peak with the terrestrial oceanic peak is a striking feature, but it does not necessarily imply the occurrence of plate tectonics on Venus. The present observation is consistent with the existence of a similar thermal isostasy acting at the planetary scale. It places an upper bound at 90 +/- 10 km for the modal thermal lithospheric thickness of Venus, if the Venus mantle thermal conditions are earth-like. This estimate is reduced if hotter conditions occur.
Pinet Patrick C.
Rosenblatt Pascal
Thouvenot Eric
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