Heat Transport and Energetics of the Earth and Rocky Planets

Book excerpt: Heat Transport and Energetics of the Earth and Rocky Planets provides a better understanding of the interior of the Earth by addressing the processes related to the motion of heat in large bodies. By addressing issues such as the effect of self-gravitation on the thermal state of the Earth, the effect of length-scales on heat transport, important observations of Earth, and a comparison to the behavior of other rocky bodies, readers will find clearly delineated discussions on the thermal state and evolution of the Earth. Using a combination of fundamentals, new developments and scientific and mathematical principles, the book summarizes the state-of-the-art. This timely reference is an important resource for geophysicists, planetary scientists, geologists, geochemists, and seismologists to gain a better understanding of the interior, formation and evolution of planetary bodies. - Provides an interdisciplinary approach to the understanding of the thermal evolution of large planetary bodies, including contributed chapters from leading experts - Includes relevant observations of Earth and large-scale heat transfer, a critical review of existing paradigms of the current thermal state of the Earth, and a discussion of heat flow on the other rocky planets - Covers macroscopic phenomena as they pertain to deciphering the thermal structure of planetary bodies