| Session Details | |
| Section | PS - Planetary Sciences |
| Session Title | Physical and Dynamical Evolution of the Post-formation Solar System |
| Main Convener | Dr. Henry H. Hsieh (Planetary Science Institute, United States) |
| Co-convener(s) | Mr. Ramon Brasser (Earth Life Science Institute, Japan) Dr. Norbert Schorghofer (Planetary Science Institute, United States) Dr. Bin Yang (Chinese Academy of Sciences, China) Dr. Xiao-Ping Lu (Macau University of Science & Technology, China) |
| Session Description | The first hundred million years of the Solar System are characterised by the coagulation of dust to pebbles to planetesimals and planetary embryos, and finally resulting in the violent formation of the terrestrial and giant planets. Yet the system is far from its present quiescent state immediately after the planets have fully formed. In the inner solar system, the intense bombardment by materials left over from accretion prevents the terrestrial bodies from forming a crust, with profound implications for their proclivity to form a biosphere. In the outer solar system the giant planets are thought to be in an uneasy resonant configuration that will ultimately become unstable. Mars will slowly lose its magnetic field, Venus may experience a runaway greenhouse phase and Earth will undergo an enormous atmospheric transformation. Small planetesimals, which are thought to be leftover debris from the planet formation process, continue to evolve dynamically, thermally, and physically. In this session we aim to consider the general evolution of the solar system after its violent formation as understood and constrained by various areas of study, from planetary geology to laboratory studies, cosmochemistry, thermal and dynamical modeling of small bodies, and Earth science. It makes sense at this time to synthesize what we know, highlight key points of agreement and contention, and to provide recommendations for progress. We aim to integrate views and data from cosmochemistry, geochronology, thermal modeling and dynamics to formulate a coherent picture of the coming-of-age of our planetary system. Topics for discussion include, but are not limited to: space weathering, dynamical and thermal evolution of small bodies, impact and rotational disruptions, dynamics and evolution of the major planets, crust formation, impact bombardment, and laboratory studies. |