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Tectonic contrasts between Venus and the Earth
Author(s) -
Kaula William M.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl011i001p00035
Subject(s) - venus , geology , geophysics , tectonics , mantle (geology) , mantle convection , crust , lithosphere , seismology , geodesy , astrobiology , physics
The long‐wave features of the gravity field of Venus differ from those of the Earth's field not only in their strong positive correlation with topography, but also in their gentler spectral slope. These properties are inconsistent with generation of the gravity field by plate tectonics or by processes at great depths; they are consistent with generation by a mantle convective system supporting the broad features in topography with an effective compensation depth of about 450 km.