GEOL 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 19.3: Terrestrial Planet, Hematite, Subduction
Document Summary
Inner planets: the four planets closest to the sun, also called terrestrial planets due to rocky surfaces. Geology differs primarily because of different sizes and different atmospheres. Relentlessly baked by its proximity to the sun. No erosion by water or wind, so the surface is covered with craters. Extremely thin atmosphere leads to more impacts. Similar ot earth in size, mass, and composition. No evidence of active plate techtonics, but it hs experienced volcanism and tectonism in the last billion years. Atmosphere consists mostly of carbon dioxide and droplets of sulfuric acid and almost no water vapor. Atmsophere exerts a stifling amount of air pressure. Allows suns energy in, keeps the heat from escaping back to space, causing the atmosphere to heat up like a closed greenhouse. Surface temperatures are more than 450 degrees celsius. Atmsopheric thickness allows for the development of oceans, rivers, and life.
