Abstract
A schematic diagram showing the relative importance of conduction, convection and hotspots as heat transfer mechanisms on planets has been previously described by Solomon and Head (1982). In their construction they assumed that the majority of heat transfer on Earth involved mantle convection (and hence, plate recycling), with Io and Mercury dominated by hotspot and conduction, respectively. This diagram is here quantified and used to deduce the tectonic regime of Jovian and Saturnian satellites.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Catless, L. M.: 1980, ‘Interpretation of Postglacial Isostatic Adjustment Phenomena in Terms of Mantle Rheology’, in N.-A. Mörner (ed.), Earth Rheology, Isostasy, and Eustasy, Wiley Interscience, pp. 11–43.
Selby, M. J.: 1985, Earth's Changing Surface, Oxford University Press.
Solomon, S. C. and Head, J. W.: 1982, Mechanism for Lithosphere Heat Transport on Venus: Implications for Tectonic Style and Volcanism, J. Geophys. Res. 87, 9236–9246.
Stevenson, R. J.: 1987, An Evolutionary Framework for the Jovian and Saturnian Satellites, Earth, Moon, and Planets 39, 225–236 (this issue).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hodder, A.P.W. Inferred heat transfer mechanisms and tectonic development of planets and satellites. Earth Moon Planet 39, 237–241 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00055053
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00055053