Model of the material circulation in Vesta’s interior
Model of the material circulation in Vesta’s interior
During Vesta's early evolutionary phase, convective upheavals took place inside the asteroid. The dimensionless temperature shown in the envelope increases with depth. In this ‘stagnant-lid’ situation, the rock is rigid and immobile due to its very low temperature. Convective circulation takes place under the ‘lid’ of Vesta’s solidified crust – warmer rock masses rise and cooler rock masses sink. The dimensionless convection velocity indicates ‘plumes’, bubbles of rising, warmer and less dense material, and sinking, colder and denser material.
Credit:
W. Neumann (2019)