Plate tectonics
Plate tectonics, in combination with the presence of large bodies of water on a planet, is able to maintain high levels of carbon dioxide () in its atmosphere. This process appears to be common in geologically active terrestrial planets with a significant rotation speed. The more massive a planetary body, the longer time it will generate internal heat, which is a major contributing factor to plate tectonics. However, excessive mass can also slow plate tectonics because of increased pressure and viscosity of the mantle, which hinders the sliding of the lithosphere. Research suggests that plate tectonics peaks in activity in bodies with a mass between 1 and 5M⊕, with an optimum mass of approximately 2M⊕.