Evolutionary Tracks of the Terrestrial Planets
Abstract
On the basis of the model proposed by Matsui and Abe, we will show that two major factors — distance from the Sun and the efficiency of retention of accretional energy — control the early evolution of the terrestrial planets. A diagram of accretional energy versus the optical depth of a proto-atmosphere provides a means to follow the evolutionary track of surface temperature of the terrestrial planets and an explanation for why the third planet in our solar system is an ‘aqua’-planet.
- Publication:
-
Earth Moon and Planets
- Pub Date:
- November 1987
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF00055050
- Bibcode:
- 1987EM&P...39..207M
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Models;
- Planetary Evolution;
- Terrestrial Planets;
- Optical Thickness;
- Planetary Atmospheres;
- Planetary Temperature;
- Protoplanets