1. Xi Zhang E&MS A261 <xiz@ucsc.edu>
Planetary Discovery
in the era of Spacecraft Exploration
Xi Zhang
E&MS A261
TA: Szilard Gyalay

2. Today’s Outline
Surface and Interior of Earth (Chap. 9)

3. What processes shape planetary surfaces?
Cratering, volcanism, tectonics, erosion
How do impact craters reveal a surface's geological age?
The amount of cratering tells us how long ago a surface formed.
Why do the terrestrial planets have different geological histories?
Differences arise because of planetary size, distance from Sun, and rotation rate.

4. What are the major geological features of Mars?
Differences in cratering across surface
Giant shield volcanoes
Evidence of tectonic activity
What geological evidence tells us that water once flowed on Mars?
Some surface features look like dry riverbeds.
Some craters appear to be eroded.
Rovers have found rocks that appear to have formed in water.
Gullies in crater walls may indicate recent water flows.

5. Venus
Surface is all the same age and geologically quite young.

6. Radar Mapping
Its thick atmosphere forces us to explore Venus's surface through radar mapping.

7. Cratering on Venus
Venus has impact craters, but fewer than the Moon, Mercury, or Mars.

8. Volcanoes on Venus
It has many volcanoes, including both shield volcanoes and stratovolcanoes. 8

9. Lava and Volcanoes Runny lava makes flat lava plains.
Slightly thicker lava makes broad shield volcanoes.
Thickest lava makes steep stratovolcanoes.

10. Tectonics on Venus
The planet's fractured and contorted surface indicates tectonic stresses.

11. Erosion on Venus Photos of rocks taken by landers show little erosion.
Winds are slow
No rain down to the surface

12. Does Venus have plate tectonics?
Venus does not appear to have plate tectonics, but entire surface seems to have been "repaved" 750 million years ago.
Weaker convection?
Thicker or more rigid lithosphere?

13. ESA Venus Express ( )

14. What geological processes have shaped Venus?
Venus has cratering, volcanism, and tectonics but not much erosion.
Does Venus have plate tectonics?
The lack of plate tectonics on Venus is a mystery.

15. 3rd rock from the Sun Uncratered Magnetic fiel, Plate Tectonics Earth
■ Average distance from the Sun: 1.00 AU
■ Radius: 6378 km
■ Mass: × 1024 kg
■ Average density: 5.52 g/cm3
■ Composition: rocks, metals
■ Average surface temperature: 290 K
■ Moons: 1
Uncratered
Magnetic fiel,
Plate Tectonics

16. to half of Earth’s radius
Core of Fe that extends
to half of Earth’s radius
The velocity of seismic waves depends on the density, just like sound in air is slower than sound in water.
Seismic velocity depends on density

17. Continental Motion
The idea of continental drift was inspired by the puzzle-like fit of the continents.

18. Plate Motions
Measurements of plate motions tell us past and future layout of the continents.

19. Plate Tectonics is based on theory that the lithosphere is divided into 7 major and many minor plates that are moving in relation to each other over the hotter and weaker asthenosphere

20. Continental Motion
Motion of the continents can be measured with GPS.

21. Seafloor Crust Mantle material erupts where the seafloor spreads.
Thin seafloor crust differs from thick continental crust.
Dating of the seafloor shows that it is usually quite young.

22. Seafloor Recycling
Seafloor is recycled through a process known as subduction.

23. Basalt Carbonate Granite
The oceanic plate is getting Subducted below the contitnental crust because the oceanic crust is heavier (more dense), so it sinks back down into the mantle. Why volcanism is occurring where cold, ocean crust is going DOWN into the mantle ... why do things come up? Chemistry!

24. Quiz: How long does it take for the entire seafloor to be replaced due to plate tectonics? (hint: plates move 2 cm/year roughly)
2 thousand years
2 million years
200 million years
2 billion years

25. Quiz: How long does it take for the entire seafloor to be replaced due to plate tectonics? (hint: plates move 2 cm/year roughly)
2 thousand years
2 million years
200 million years
2 billion years

26. Surface Features
Major geological features of North America record the history of plate tectonics.

27. Surface Features
The Himalayas formed from a collision between plates.

28. Surface Features
The Red Sea is formed where plates are pulling apart.

29. Rifts, Faults, Earthquakes
The San Andreas fault in California is a plate boundary.
Motion of plates can cause earthquakes.

31. A global network of seismometers in the 1960s (to monitor compliance with the nuclear test ban treaty) provided worldwide map of earthquake locations.

32. Hot Spots
The Hawaiian islands have formed where a plate is moving over a volcanic hot spot.

33. Was Earth's geology destined from birth?
Many of Earth's features are determined by its size, rotation, and distance from Sun.
The reason for plate tectonics is not yet clear.

34. How is Earth's surface shaped by plate tectonics?
Measurements of plate motions confirm the idea of continental drift.
Plate tectonics is responsible for subduction, seafloor spreading, mountains, rifts, and earthquakes.
Was Earth's geology destined from birth?
Many of Earth's features are determined by its size, distance from Sun, and rotation rate.
The reason for plate tectonics is still a mystery.