Pauer, M. and Cadek, O. and Breuer, D. and Spohn, T. (2008) On the difficulty to detect Mercury's mantle convection from future gravity data. In: Eos Trans. AGU, Fall Meet. Suppl., 89 (53), U21A-0018. AGU Fall meeting, 2008-12-14 - 2008-12-19, San Francisco, California (USA).
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Abstract
Thermo-chemical evolution and convection models of Mercury suggest that its thin mantle may still exhibit thermal convection. To confirm or disregard this assumption, future gravity and topography data can be in principle used. In the case of present-day mantle convection the dynamic flow in the mantle not only generates a gravity signal possibly detectable above the surface of the planet, but also modifies the observed planetary topography. To estimate the possible amplitudes of these dynamic signatures self- consistently, we have employed a viscous mantle flow model coupled with an overlaying thick elastic lithosphere. For a wide range of present-day elastic thicknesses obtained using a parameterized thermal evolution model and maximal temperature anomalies in the present mantle of Δ T =± 100 K, we find that the dynamic geoid and topography do not exceed significantly ± 10 and ± 250 meters, respectively. Unless the present-day elastic thickness is significantly smaller than the results of thermal- evolution models suggest, we will not be able to distinguish between a convecting or a non-convecting mantle. This is in contrast to earlier findings of Spohn et al. [2001], Breuer et al. [2007] and Redmond and King [2007]. References: Spohn et al. (2001), Planet. Space Sci., 49, 1561--1570. Redmond and King (2007), Phys. Earth Planet. Int., 164, 221--231. Breuer et al. (2007), Space Sci. Rev., 132(2-4), 229--260.
Item URL in elib: | https://elib.dlr.de/57043/ | |||||||||||||||
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Document Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Speech) | |||||||||||||||
Title: | On the difficulty to detect Mercury's mantle convection from future gravity data | |||||||||||||||
Authors: |
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Date: | December 2008 | |||||||||||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Eos Trans. AGU, Fall Meet. Suppl. | |||||||||||||||
Refereed publication: | No | |||||||||||||||
Open Access: | No | |||||||||||||||
Gold Open Access: | No | |||||||||||||||
In SCOPUS: | No | |||||||||||||||
In ISI Web of Science: | No | |||||||||||||||
Volume: | 89 | |||||||||||||||
Page Range: | U21A-0018 | |||||||||||||||
Status: | Published | |||||||||||||||
Keywords: | Gravitational fields, Interiors, Mercury, Dynamics: convection currents, and mantle plumes, Lithospheric flexure | |||||||||||||||
Event Title: | AGU Fall meeting | |||||||||||||||
Event Location: | San Francisco, California (USA) | |||||||||||||||
Event Type: | international Conference | |||||||||||||||
Event Dates: | 2008-12-14 - 2008-12-19 | |||||||||||||||
HGF - Research field: | Aeronautics, Space and Transport (old) | |||||||||||||||
HGF - Program: | Space (old) | |||||||||||||||
HGF - Program Themes: | W EW - Erforschung des Weltraums | |||||||||||||||
DLR - Research area: | Space | |||||||||||||||
DLR - Program: | W EW - Erforschung des Weltraums | |||||||||||||||
DLR - Research theme (Project): | W - Vorhaben Vergleichende Planetologie (old) | |||||||||||||||
Location: | Berlin-Adlershof | |||||||||||||||
Institutes and Institutions: | Institute of Planetary Research > Planetary Physics | |||||||||||||||
Deposited By: | Hempel, Stefanie | |||||||||||||||
Deposited On: | 05 Jan 2009 | |||||||||||||||
Last Modified: | 27 Apr 2009 15:39 |
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