Dynamics and Thermal History of the Terrestrial Planets, the Moon, and Io

Kurzfassung

This chapter covers the interiors of the Earth, the Moon, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Vesta, and solid exoplanets. The modeling of terrestrial planet interiors is based on theoretical calculations that satisfy all the available constraints provided by Earth-based and remote-sensing observations, in situ data, and laboratory measurements. Observations that provide constraints on the interior structure, composition, and mineralogy of terrestrial planetary bodies are reviewed. Mathematical descriptions of spherically symmetrical density models and the thermodynamic equations of state they employ are provided. Current knowledge about terrestrial planet interiors derived from observations and theoretical studies is reviewed, and implications for chemical and rheological layering and bulk composition are discussed.