Download Microsymposium 36, MS046, 2002 MARS, EARTH, VENUS

Microsymposium 36, MS046, 2002
MARS, EARTH, VENUS: CONCERTED PROPERTIES OF LITHOSPHERES AND ATMOSPHERES
CONNECTED WITH REGULAR TECTONIC GRANULATION OF THE PLANETS. G. G. Kochemasov,
IGEM RAS, 35 Staromonetny, Moscow 119017, Russia , [email protected]
The comparative wave planetology [1], constantly present at the Vernadsky-Brown microsymposia starting in 1992, has many
aspects of comparison of so varying celestial bodies. But this juxtaposition is based mainly on numerous surface images acquired
by spacecrafts. A lucky chance occurs however when dealing with three terrestrial planets having atmospheres and rather well
studied solid envelopes. In this case a “vertical sounding” is possible to show that rules of the wave planetology are applicable to
various planetary envelopes structurized concordantly. This proves validity of the wave planetology the main point of which is
expressed in three words: “orbits make structures”. This overall law can be unfolded into 4 theorems of the planetary tectonics: 1.
Celestial bodies are dichotomic. 2. –“- sectoral. 3. –“- granular. 4. Angular momenta of different level blocks tend to be equal
[2].
The third theorem connects orbital frequencies and sizes of tectonic granulas: higher frequencies – smaller granulas. Mars,
Earth, Venus with frequencies about 1/2y., 1/1y., 1/0.6y. have sizes of granulas πR/2,πR/4,πR/6 (R – a body radius) (Fig.1, 2).
Otherwise, Venus is tectonically “fine-grained”, Earth “medium-grained”, Mars “coarse-grained”. The wave produced
granulation indicates that fine-grained Venus is more thoroughly shaken out and released from its volatiles than Earth and Mars.
And this is proved by its massive atmosphere containing a large amount of nitrogen and having very low ratio of radioactive to
primordial argon (1, for Earth 300, Mars 3000 [3]).
Compare “sweeping” volatiles out of Venus and Earth. In a sphere of radius R there are 16.5 grains of radius πR/8 (Earth) and
55.7 grains of radius πR/12 (Venus). Venus is 3.38 times finer-grained. To the terrestrial wavelength 10000 km (πR/2)
corresponds frequency 0.03 khz, to the venusian 6000 km (πR/3) 0.07 khz. Venusian oscillations 2.33 times more frequent. If an
outgassing difference of two planets is the square (outgassing goes through surface) of the production of differencies in
granulation and oscillation frequencies, then Venus is 62 times more outgassed [DV/DE = (3.38 x 2.33)2 = 62.1]. Actually, the
venusian atmosphere is 90 times more massive than the terrestrial one. Now compare Mars and Earth by the same manner. In a
sphere of radius R there are 16.5 grains of radius πR/8 (Earth) and 2.06 grains of radius πR/4 (Mars). Earth is 8 times finergrained than Mars. Terrestrial wavelength is 10000 km (πR/2), martian 10660 km (πR/1). Them correspond frequencies 0.03 and
0.025 khz. Terrestrial oscillations 1.2 time more frequent. Earth is (8 x 1.2)2 = 92 times more degassed than Mars. Taking into
account the smaller martian mass (1/10 of the Earth’s mass) one would expect 92 x 10 = 920 times less massive martian
atmosphere. Actually, the surface atmospheric pressure on Mars is only about 200 times weaker. This discrepancy possibly can
be partially assigned to high amounts of frozen CO2 and water (proved by “Odyssey”) in near-surface layers constantly supplying
volatiles into atmosphere. A varying inclination of the rotation axis makes the martian atmosphere more or less dense.
An important sink of volatiles (water) is the martian continental crust. A reasonable composition of it is albitite – syenite –
granite, i. e. material with high albedo and much lesser dense than Fe- basalts of lowlands [4]. Rich in feldspathoids this material
under widespread hydrothermal activity is normally transformed into zeolite-rich rocks (by the way, shining as ice crystals).
Some zeolites can contain upto 25% of water escaping crystals under certain temperatures and capable to return into them under
changing conditions. Thus, this continent-wide sink could contribute significantly to the lithosphere-atmosphere water balance.
“Odyssey” hydrogen data show comparative enrichment in this element of wide equatorial regions (Arabia Terra, Tharsis)
probably not connected with water ice. In any case, in the row Venus – Earth – Mars the first planet is strongly outgassed and
relatively dry, the last is less outgassed and still has an appreciable stock of volatiles and Earth is in the middle.
As the considered wave processes started acting at stage of planet accumulation in their debris zones (belts), an amplitude of
the wave scattering was weak at the venusian zone and the strongest at the martian one. No significant amount of solid material
was detached from the venusian belt to form a satellite, rather large amount and at right distance was thrown out to form a
massive satellite at the Earth’s zone, and still larger amount at great distance was thrown away at the martian zone. It was
dispersed not gravity held by diminishing martian mass and replenished an asteroid stock. Only two small asteroid size satellites
are now around this small planet and Phobos is in a very peculiar unstable orbit. Only this regular wave process should be
applied to explain an origin of the Moon. A mysterious impact process producing ‘the Pacific hole” has to be rejected also
because the tectonic dichotomy is a common feature of all celestial bodies (Theorem 1, [2]).
Fig.1. Coherence of lithospheric and atmospheric structures in wide equatorial zones of Venus (1-2), Earth (3-5), Mars (6-7).
This comparison in the same scale shows a regular increase of tectonic granula sizes from Venus to Mars observed in
lithospheres and atmospheres. 1. Venusian gravity potential [5], 2. Dark and light UV markings in the venusian cloud cover [6],
3. Heterogeneity of the Earth’s mantle at 470 km depth from seismic tomography [7], 4. The Earth’s lithospheric ring
superstructures [Kochemasov, 1991-2002], 5. Average atmospheric pressure on sea level at Earth in January [8], 6. Areoid
anomalies (in meters) [9], 7. Density of the martian thermosphere normalized to 125 km height [10]. Fig.2. Geometrical model of
warping standing waves shaping celestial bodies with production of tectonic granulas of different sizes. Below: schemes of
tectonic granulation after real images and a “Galileo” photograph of Earth – a view at the South pole. Fig.3. Regular change of
some planetary characteristics from Mercury to Mars. Solid line –relief range; dashed –Fe/Si and dots –Fe/Mg in basalts of
lowlands; dot-dashed –density contrast between the highland & lowland rocks. All in comparison to the terrestrial values taken as
1 [11]. Below: average densities of highland & lowland rocks [11].
References: [1] Kochemasov G.G. (2002) Planetology became comparative after a uniform scale has been found // ESLAB 36:
Earth-like planets and moons, Programme and abstract book, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 3-8 June 2002, Abstract # 21.
[2] Kochemasov G.G. (1999) Theorems of wave planetary tectonics // Geophys. Res. Abstr. ,v.1, # 3, 700. [3] Pollack J.B. ,
Black D.C. (1979) Implications of the gas compositional measurements of Pioneer Venus for the origin of planetary atmospheres
// Science, v. 205, #4401, 56-59. [4] Kochemasov G.G. (2001) The composition of the martian highlands as a factor of their
effective uplifting, destruction and production of voluminous debris // In: Field Trip and Workshop on the Martian Highlands and
Mojave Desert Analogs, LPI contrib. #1101, Lunar & Planetary Inst., Houston, 35-36. [5] Arkani-Hamed J. (1996) // JGR,v.101,
# E2, 4711-4724. [6] Murray B.C., Belton M.J.S., Danielson G.E. et al. (1974) Venus: atmospheric motion and structure from
Mariner 10 pictures // Science, v. 183, # 4131, 1307-1315. [7] Montagner J.-P., Romanowicz B. (1993) Degrees 2, 4, 6 inferred
from seismic tomography // Geophys. Res. Lett. , v. 20, # 7, 631-634. [8] Fedorov A.E. (2002) Manifestation of the cube in the
Earth’s structure // “Planet Earth” system (Non-traditional aspects of geology). X scientific seminar, 5-6 February 2002,
Proceedings, Moscow, MSU, Society “Harmony of Earth and Planets Structure”, 370 pp., 121-153. [9] Smith D.E., Sjogren
W.L., Tyler G.L. et al. (1999) The gravity field of Mars: results from Mars Global Surveyor // Science, v. 286,# 5437, 94-97.
[10] Keating G.M. , Bougher S.W. , Zurek R.W. et al. (1998) The structure of the upper atmosphere of Mars: in situ
accelerometer measurements from Mars Global Surveyor // Science, v. 279, # 5357, 1672-1676. [11] Kochemasov G.G. (1994) A
third major step towards wave planetology: regular change of terrestrial planets crust composition // 20th Russian-American
microsymposium on planetology , Abstracts, Moscow, Vernadsky Inst., 46-47
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