Some Tectonic Concepts Relevant to the Study of Rocky Exoplanets

TL;DR

This paper explores Earth's plate tectonics, discusses models predicting tectonic activity on rocky exoplanets, and highlights unresolved questions about planetary behavior and tectonic states, aiming to inform exoplanet studies.

Contribution

It reviews current concepts and models of planetary tectonics, emphasizing the need for understanding Earth's unique behavior to better analyze rocky exoplanets.

Findings

Studies identify planetary properties influencing tectonic states

Models propose surface feature patterns for planetary tectonics

Research highlights unresolved questions about Earth's tectonic evolution

Abstract

We'll examine plate tectonics on Earth -- its features and forces -- and examine some concepts that may allow astronomers to ask useful questions regarding numeric models that putatively predict tectonic activity. But exo-planetologists should be aware that geologists are still attempting to understand: why does Earth operates as it does, and so much differently than its neighbors? Has it always operated this way and have other planets of the inner Solar System ever mimicked Earth's behavior in their past? These problems are unsolved, though some interesting speculative notions have emerged. Studies by Foley et al. et al. (2012) and Weller and Lenardic (2018), for example, attempt to distill the essential planetary properties that may influence if not dictate possible tectonic states, while Yin et al. (2016) propose a model of planetary tectonic surface features that appears remarkably precise. These studies yield some compelling expedients for analyses of planetary objects both within and outside our Solar System.