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GEOL3045: Planetary Geology Lysa Chizmadia Earth-Moon System Introduction Earth is 3rd planet from the Sun First with natural satellite Largest planet in inner solar system Image from: http://www.nineplanets.org/earth.html Diameter = 1.3 x 104 km Highest density 5.52 g/cm3 FeNi core 1/6 ’s volume > Mars Youngest surface Weathering Plate Tectonics Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth Plate Tectonics Three types of plate boundaries Divergent Convergent Transform Explains distribution of e-quakes & volcanoes Driven by convection Primordial heat from Accretion Radioactive decay Core crystallization Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth Image from: http://www.nineplanets.org/earth.html Divergent Boundaries AKA Spreading Center AKA Rifts Largest Mountain Chains in Solar System Plates move apart due to eruption of lava New lava = new oceanic crust Continental Rifting Convergent Boundaries AKA Destructive Boundaries AKA Subduction Zones Old oceanic crust dense & heavy Heavy vs. light => subduction Three Types: Ocean-ocean Ocean-continent Continent-continent Transform Boundaries AKA Conservative Plate Boundary Plates slide past each other Fracture zones in Mid-ocean ridges Strike-slips faults Only e-quakes No volcanoes Hot Spots Caused by mantle plumes Plumes do not move, plates do Leaves track of ocean islands Bend at 40Ma Major change in plate motion Atmosphere & Hydrosphere Image from: http://www.nineplanets.org/earth.html Image from:http://www.solcomhouse.com/atmosphere.htm Atmospheric Layers Water Cycle Both act to weather surface Surface is Young! Weathering Mechanical Weathering Physical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces Chemical Weathering Image from: http://www.sv.vt.edu/classes/MSE2094_NoteBook/96ClassProj/ examples/triple.html Chemical reactions which act to dissolve minerals into aqueous ions Presence of water near triple point Image from: http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/water/phase.html The Moon Distance from 3.8 x 105 km Orbit around 27.3 days (tidally locked) Rotation (phases) Image from: http://www.solarviews.com/eng/earth.htm 29.7 days Density = 3.35 g/cm3 Due to size & composition, considered a terrestrial planet Surface Composition Bright Highlands (82%) Near Side Far Side Images from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon CaAl2Si2O8 Dark Maria (18%) Basalt Tides Spring tide: when Earth, Moon & Sun aligned Neap tide: Moon perpendicular to Sun Summary Moon (Luna) Earth Plate Tectonics Divergent Plates Convergent Plates Transform Plates Hot Spots Complex Atmosphere Hydrosphere => Weathering => Young surface Surface composition Oceans = Basalt Continents = Granite Terrestrial Planet B/c size & composition Low Density Little or no FeNi core Tidally locked to Earth Always see same side Pulls on oceans & crust Surface composition Anorthosite Basalt Old Surface Heavily cratered No weathering