Halemaumau lava lake in Kīlauea, taken in November 2013. (Photo credit: Tom Shea)
In the early solar system, rocky planets, such as Earth, Mercury, Venus and Mars, and the Moon may have been “lava worlds,” with oceans of magma blanketing the surface, according to planetary scientists. Similar magma-covered planets may orbit close to other stars and can be studied directly.
SOEST), along with their Earth sciences professor
Eric Gaidos, published a scientific review of this stage in planetary evolution that may determine the later atmospheric composition and potential habitability of planets such as Earth.
Timely scientific review
This topic is particularly timely for the scientific community because