Team Leads: Lenardic, Stewart, Lee;
Members: Dasgupta, Hassenzadeh, McCubbin, Boyce, Vander Kaaden, Monteleone, Ma
After planet assembly and initial differentiation (separation and layering of core, mantle, crust, atmosphere), the chemical components on a young planet are mixed and redistributed by endogenic and exogenic processes, such as volcanism, surface weathering and erosion, as well as ongoing impact processes.
In sub-theme 4a, we will couple models of mantle partial melting, melt emplacement and differentiation with COHNSP budget and speciation in melt from laboratory experiments of volatile solubility and saturation to determine how with different conditions (composition, depth, temperature, redox state) of mantle melting and styles of magma differentiation, the outflux of life-essential ingredients differ.
While magma is the key vehicle for long-term supply of COHNSP to the surficial niches of rocky planets, the sustenance and planet scale distribution of these ingredients are affected by the volcanic-tectonic modes of planets (e.g., presence or absence of plate tectonics) and the nature of coupling of climate, surface weathering, erosion and thermal evolution of the planetary interiors as well as impacts. In sub-themes 4b and 4c, we will explore how element cycling depends on endogenic (volcanism, tectonics, weathering) and exogenic (impacts) processes by performing geodynamic and atmospheric modeling of mantle and climate evolution, experimental and numerical simulation of planetary impacts on rocky substrates as well as studying terrestrial analog sites for understanding the control of weathering and erosion on redistribution of volatiles and nutrients.
This theme will attempt to answer the questions:
What is the role of magmatism in delivery of life-essential ingredients to planetary surfaces?
How much control does mantle-climate coupling have in redistribution of life-essential ingredients?
Can impacts drive redistribution of life-essential ingredients, how and to what extent?