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Venus tectonics - Another earth or another MarsThe paper reexamines the evidence on the intensity of Venusian tectonic/volcanic activity and suggests alternate hypotheses. Three major questions are discussed: (1) whether the presence of large, presumably primordial craters on Venus requires an intensity of tectonic/volcanic activity significantly less than on earth, (2) what thicknesses of lithosphere are implied for reasonable models of temperature and volatile content of the upper mantle of Venus, and (3) can the recently obtained Ar-40 content of the Venus lower atmosphere help define the relative tectonic/volcanic activities of Venus and earth. It was shown that the abundance of Ar-40 in the Venus atmosphere lies between the earth value and one-tenth of the earth value, and since erosional liberation of Ar-40 on Venus will be inefficient, this range for Ar-40 abundance indicates an active tectonic history. It is concluded that the presence of craters and possible mantle dryness does not restrict Venus tectonics to a Mars-like model, and an earth-like model is equally probable.
Document ID
19790067485
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Mcgill, G. E.
(Massachusetts, University Amherst, Mass., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 6
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
79A51498
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS2-9129
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-22-010-076
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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