English

On computing viscoelastic Love numbers for general planetary models: the \texttt{ALMA${}^3$} code

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics 2023-01-19 v1 Geophysics

Abstract

The computation of the Love numbers for a spherically symmetric self-gravitating viscoelastic Earth is a classical problem in global geodynamics. Here we revisit the problem of the numerical evaluation of loading and tidal Love numbers in the static limit for an incompressible planetary body, adopting a Laplace inversion scheme based upon the Post-Widder formula as an alternative to the {traditional viscoelastic normal modes method. We also consider, whithin the same framework, complex-valued, frequency-dependent Love numbers that describe the response to a periodic forcing, which are paramount in the study of the tidal deformation of planets. Furthermore, we numerically obtain the time-derivatives of Love numbers, suitable for modeling geodetic signals in response to surface loads variations. A number of examples are shown, in which time and frequency-dependent Love numbers are evaluated for the Earth and planets adopting realistic rheological profiles. The numerical solution scheme is implemented in ALMA3{}^3 (the plAnetary Love nuMbers cAlculator, version 3), an upgraded open-source Fortran 90 program that computes the Love numbers for radially layered planetary bodies with a wide range of rheologies, including transient laws like Andrade or Burgers.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2301.07351,
  title  = {On computing viscoelastic Love numbers for general planetary models: the \texttt{ALMA${}^3$} code},
  author = {Daniele Melini and Christelle Saliby and Giorgio Spada},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2301.07351},
  year   = {2023}
}

Comments

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Geophysical Journal International following peer review. The version of record is available online at https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggac263

R2 v1 2026-06-28T08:14:12.227Z