On the Research of Mantle Convection in Terrestrial Planets and Large Satellites postprint

Abstract: Mantle convection plays a key role in the evolution of terrestrial planets. The latest research progress on mantle convection in terrestrial planets and large satellites is reviewed in this paper with the method of comparative planetology, which concentrates on three main issues, which are (1) Does mantle convection exist within terrestrial planets? (2) If mantle convection exists, what are its convection regime and characteristics? (3) What conditions are required for mantle convection to occur in terrestrial planets? The principal factors that significantly influence mantle convection are also discussed, in#2;cluding the mantle geometry and scale, material property, driving mechanism, fluid viscosity, thermal and kinematic boundary conditions, differentiation and phase transformation. It further addresses mantle convection and convection in ice shell of some large satellites. Elu#2;cidating the causes, mechanisms, and effects of mantle convection across different celestial bodies holds significant implications for understanding the planetary internal dynamics and planetary evolutions.