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Rotational Dynamics of Viscoelastic Planets: Linear Theory

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Global Dynamics of the Earth: Applications of Viscoelastic Relaxation Theory to Solid-Earth and Planetary Geophysics

Abstract

The linearized theory of rotation for viscoelastic planetary bodies, like the Earth, is developed. The MacCullagh’s formula linking the inertia and gravitational perturbations is self-consistently derived within our formalism. The concept of True Polar Wander (TPW) is introduced, and attention is devoted to the physics of viscoelastic, rotational bulge readjustment. Different rotation theories that appeared in the literature are compared, including the effects of non-hydrostatic bulge contribution and compressible versus incompressible rotational bulge readjustment. The long-term behavior of the rotation equation is considered, and a linearized theory for TPW driven by mantle convection is provided. The Earth, Mars and Venus are compared in terms of the ability of their rotation axis to wander.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Geophysics, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Roberto Sabadini

  2. University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

    Bert Vermeersen

  3. NIOZ/Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Bert Vermeersen

  4. University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Gabriele Cambiotti

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  1. Roberto Sabadini
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  2. Bert Vermeersen
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Sabadini, R., Vermeersen, B., Cambiotti, G. (2016). Rotational Dynamics of Viscoelastic Planets: Linear Theory. In: Global Dynamics of the Earth: Applications of Viscoelastic Relaxation Theory to Solid-Earth and Planetary Geophysics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7552-6_3

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