Evidence for Critical Internal heat values during Significant Geophysical Transitions in the Inner Solar System Planetary bodies in association with Volcanism

TL;DR

This study identifies critical internal heat flux thresholds associated with major geophysical transitions and volcanism in inner solar system planets, highlighting the role of core-mantle interactions and implications for habitability.

Contribution

It introduces a simple thermal evolution model linking heat flux thresholds to planetary volcanism and magnetic field changes, revealing self-organized planetary behavior.

Findings

Critical heat flux during peak volcanism (~1.2 W/m2)

Lower heat flux during cessation (~0.092 W/m2)

Link between heat flux changes and magnetic field dynamics

Abstract

We found evidence for critical internal heat values during significant geophysical transitions in the inner solar system planetary bodies in association with volcanism. From a simple rocky planet thermal evolution model, we could infer critical surface heat flux values during peak phases (~1.2 W/m2) and cessation phases (~ 0.092 W/m2) of major volcanism in Earth, Moon, Mars, Venus and Mercury. The above phases of volcanism are accompanied by significant geophysical transitions like growth and decay of global planetary magnetic fields which is likely to be related to systematic changes in core-mantle boundary heat flux values. The above results suggest the that planets are possibly self-organised physical systems with strong core-mantle-crust coupling . The present study will have implications on the search for habitable extrasolar planets.