Viscoelastic relaxation of topographic highs on Venus to produce coronae

Details Viscoelastic relaxation of topographic highs on Venus to produce coronae Viscoelastic relaxation of topographic highs on Venus to produce coronae

Oct 1995

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995jgr...10021173j&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 100, Issue E10, p. 21173-21188

Physics

19

Tectonophysics: Stresses-Crust And Lithosphere, Tectonophysics: Dynamics, Gravity And Tectonics, Tectonophysics: Dynamics Of Lithosphere And Mantle-General, Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Tectonics

Scientific paper

Coronae on Venus are believed to result from the gravitationally driven relaxation of topography that was originally raised by mantle diapirs. We examine this relaxation using a viscoelastic finite element code, and show that an initially plateau shaped load will evolve to the characteristic corona topography of central raised bowl, annular rim, and surrounding moat. Stresses induced by the relaxation are consistent with the development of concentric extensional fracturing common on the outer margins of corona moats. However, relaxation is not expected to produce the concentric faulting often observed on the annular rim. The relaxation timescale is shorter than the diapir cooling timescale, so loss of thermal support controls the rate at which topography is reduced. The final corona shape is supported by buoyancy and flexural stresses and will persist through geologic time. Development of lower, flatter central bowls and narrower and more pronounced annular rims and moats enhanced by thicker crusts, higher thermal gradients, and crustal thinning over the diapir. .

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