US-Federal Republic of Germany Cooperative Research: New Models of the Inner Structure, Mantle Dynamics and Thermal Evolution of Mars

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This award supports Dr. Gerald Schubert of UCLA to collaborate in astronomy research with Dr. Tilman Spohn of the Institute of Planetology of the University of Muenster, Federal Republic of Germany. They are working to develop new models of the inner structure, mantle dynamics and the thermal and chemical evolution of Mars. Dr. Spohn has developed a program for the computation of self- consistent planetary models, which include the pressure dependence of the thermal expansion coefficient. Dr. Schubert has a three- dimensional convection program applicable to Mars and access to Cray computers. Recent and planned missions of the USA and USSR have moved Mars to the center of interest in planetology. Current models of Mars are almost ten years old and no longer reflect today's knowledge of the thermodynamics and high pressure physics of terrestrial planetary material, the age of the Martian crust and core, and tectonics. Preliminary calculations by the collaborators suggest significant revisions to previous models. The models they are developing should be of relevance to questions concerning the formation of Mars and its evolution, the interpretation of magnetic field data from future missions to Mars, and cosmogonic and cosmochemical considerations of the structure and evolution of the solar system.