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The coupled orbital and thermal evolution of Triton
Author(s) -
Ross Martin N.,
Schubert Gerald
Publication year - 1990
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/gl017i010p01749
Subject(s) - tidal heating , thermal , physics , satellite , convection , orbital elements , orbital eccentricity , dissipation , orbital period , orbital inclination , orbital decay , mechanics , astrophysics , thermodynamics , stars , astronomy , arithmetic , mathematics , binary number
The coupled orbital and thermal evolution of Triton is simulated with a model of the satellite having temperature dependent k/Q (k is the second degree Love number and Q is the tidal dissipation factor). Large changes in orbital and interior properties occur in a short time span of less than 10 8 years. The peak tidal heating rate exceeds the radioactive heating rate by a factor of at least 10 3 . The ability of tidal heating to overwhelm solid state convection and cause global melting is unequivocally demonstrated. Triton's initial thermal state and composition are shown to control the length of time that passes between capture from heliocentric orbit and the occurrence of swift and dramatic changes in orbital and internal properties. This time interval could have been several billion years.