Thermopyhsical conditions for the onset of a core dynamo in Vesta

Journal
Date Issued
2016
Author(s)
•
Federico, Costanzo
•
•
•
Abstract
Recently, a study on the magnetization of the eucrite meteorite Allan Hills A81001 [1] has suggested the possibility that, in its primordial history, Vesta had an active core dynamo. The magnetic field associated could have preserved Vesta from the space-weathering. In this work, using a parametrized thermal convection method, we verified the thermophysical conditions for the onset of a core dynamo. The starting point is a post-differentiated structure [2,3,4], made of a metallic core, silicate mantle and rocky crust. We explored four different fully differentiated configurations of Vesta [5], characterized by different chondritic composition, with the constraints on the core size and density provided by [6]. We also explored three different scaling laws for the core velocity (mixing-length theory, MAC and an intermediate case). Core and mantle have both a temperature-dependent viscosity, which is the parameter that largely influences the magnetic Reynolds number and the dynamo duration. Our results suggest that Vesta had an active dynamo, whose duration lies in the range 150-500 Myr and the more appropriate scaling law for the core velocity is that given by the mixing-length theory. The maximum strength of the primordial core magnetic field is compatible with the estimations provided by [1]. [1] Fu, R. et al, 2012, Science 338, 238 [2] Ghosh, A. and McSween, H.Y., 1998, Icarus, 134, 187 [3] Formisano, M. et al., 2013, Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 48, 2316 [4] Neumann, W., et al., 2014, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 395, 267 [5] Toplis, M.J., et al., 2013, Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 48, 2300 [6] Ermakov, A.I., et al.2014, Icarus, 240, 146
Coverage
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts
Start page
EPSC2016-12654
Conferenece
EGU General Assembly 2016
Conferenece place
Vienna, Austria
Conferenece date
17-22 April, 2016
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
1029-7006
Ads BibCode
2016EGUGA..1812654F
Rights
open.access
File(s)
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name

EGU2016-12654.pdf

Description
Abstract
Size

32.04 KB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

315e3f81b12991a005c27ad443320ee2