Theory 88/Planetary/Plate tectonics
Tectonics Is Heat Against Strength
The claim
Whether a planet has plate tectonics is set by the ratio of internal heat flux to lithospheric strength, so a cooling planet eventually locks its plates.
01Mechanism
Plates must be weak enough to subduct and driven hard enough by convection; the ratio determines whether both hold.
02Prediction
Tectonic regime should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Regime tracking planet size would remove heat flux.