William B. Moore, A. Lenardic, A. M. Jellinek, C. L. Johnson, C. Goldblatt and R. D. Lorenz “The English language … becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.” – George Orwell The field of exoplanet research is currently […]
Matthew B. Weller, Adrian Lenardic, and William B. Moore Abstract We use a suite of 3-D numerical experiments to test and expand 2-D planar isoviscous scaling relationships of Moore (2008) for mixed heating convection in spherical geometry mantles over a range of Rayleigh numbers (Ra). The internal temperature scaling of Moore (2008), when modified to […]
The energetics and convective vigor of mixed-mode heating: Velocity scalings and implications for the tectonics of exoplanets Matthew B. Weller and Adrian Lenardic Abstract The discovery of large terrestrial (~1 Earth mass (Me) to<10Me) extrasolar planets has prompted a debate as to the likelihood of plate tectonics on these planets. Canonical models assume classic basal […]
Craig O’Neill, Adrian Lenardic, Matthew Weller, Louis Moresi, Steve Quenette, Siqi Zhang Abstract: The tectonic regime of a planet depends critically on the contributions of basal and internal heating to the planetary mantle, and how these evolve through time. We use viscoplastic mantle convection simulations, with evolving core–mantle boundary temperatures, and radiogenic heat decay, to […]
V. Stamenkovic, T. Höink, and A. Lenardic Abstract We use 1-D thermal history models and 3-D numerical experiments to study the impact of dynamic thermal disequilibrium and large temporal variations of normal and shear stresses on the initiation of plate tectonics. Previous models that explored plate tectonics initiation from a steady state, single plate mode […]
A. Lenardic, J.W. Crowley, A.M. Jellinek, and M. Weller Abstract. The presence of life, surface water, and plate tectonics makes Earth unique in our solar system. By contrast, Venus, the planet closest to Earth in terms of bulk properties, is characterized by significantly higher surface temperature and pressure, a lack of surface water and life, […]
A. Lenardic, A. M. Jellinek, B. Foley, C. O’Neill, and W. B. Moore Abstract Interactions among tectonics, volcanism, and surface weathering are critical to the long-term climatic state of a terrestrial planet. Volcanism cycles greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Tectonics creates weatherable topography, and weathering reactions draw greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere. Weathering depends […]
Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences
Rice University
MS-126
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Email: geol@rice.edu
