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Title:
Inevitability of Plate Tectonics on Super-Earths
Authors:
Valencia, Diana; O'Connell, Richard J.; Sasselov, Dimitar D.
Affiliation:
AA(Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA ), AB(Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA ), AC(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA )
Publication:
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 670, Issue 1, pp. L45-L48. (ApJL Homepage)
Publication Date:
11/2007
Origin:
UCP
Astronomy Keywords:
Earth, Stars: Planetary Systems, Planets and Satellites: General
DOI:
10.1086/524012
Bibliographic Code:
2007ApJ...670L..45V

Abstract

The recent discovery of super-Earths (masses <=10 M) has initiated a discussion about conditions for habitable worlds. Among these is the mode of convection, which influences a planet's thermal evolution and surface conditions. On Earth, plate tectonics has been proposed as a necessary condition for life. Here we show that super-Earths will also have plate tectonics. We demonstrate that as planetary mass increases, the shear stress available to overcome resistance to plate motion increases while the plate thickness decreases, thereby enhancing plate weakness. These effects contribute favorably to the subduction of the lithosphere, an essential component of plate tectonics. Moreover, uncertainties in achieving plate tectonics in the 1 M regime disappear as mass increases: super-Earths, even if dry, will exhibit plate tectonic behavior.
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