Print Email Facebook Twitter A full-Maxwell approach for large angle polar wander of viscoelastic bodies Title A full-Maxwell approach for large angle polar wander of viscoelastic bodies Author Hu, H. (TU Delft Astrodynamics & Space Missions) van der Wal, W. (TU Delft Astrodynamics & Space Missions) Vermeersen, L.L.A. (TU Delft Physical and Space Geodesy; TU Delft Astrodynamics & Space Missions) Date 2017 Abstract For large-angle long-term true polar wander (TPW) there are currently two types of nonlinear methods which give approximated solutions: those assuming that the rotational axis coincides with the axis of maximum moment of inertia (MoI), which simplifies the Liouville equation, and those based on the quasi-fluid approximation, which approximates the Love number. Recent studies show that both can have a significant bias for certain models. Therefore, we still lack an (semi)analytical method which can give exact solutions for large-angle TPW for a model based on Maxwell rheology. This paper provides a method which analytically solves the MoI equation and adopts an extended iterative procedure introduced in Hu et al. (2017) to obtain a time-dependent solution. The new method can be used to simulate the effect of a remnant bulge or models in different hydrostatic states. We show the effect of the viscosity of the lithosphere on long-term, large-angle TPW. We also simulate models without hydrostatic equilibrium and show that the choice of the initial stress-free shape for the elastic (or highly viscous) lithosphere of a given model is as important as its thickness for obtaining a correct TPW behavior. The initial shape of the lithosphere can be an alternative explanation to mantle convection for the difference between the observed and model predicted flattening. Finally, it is concluded that based on the quasi-fluid approximation, TPW speed on Earth and Mars is underestimated, while the speed of the rotational axis approaching the end position on Venus is overestimated. To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:af574ee7-310d-499d-9ff0-bc7a126c3f27 DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JE005365 ISSN 0148-0227 Source Journal of Geophysical Research, 122 (12), 2745–2764 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2017 H. Hu, W. van der Wal, L.L.A. Vermeersen Files PDF Hu_et_al_2017_Journal_of_ ... lanets.pdf 3.17 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:af574ee7-310d-499d-9ff0-bc7a126c3f27/datastream/OBJ/view