Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Dec 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agufm.p23e0099p&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract #P23E-0099
Mathematics
Logic
5422 Ices, 5470 Surface Materials And Properties, 5475 Tectonics (8149), 6020 Ices, 6221 Europa
Scientific paper
Europa's enigmatic bands formed as the result of complete lithospheric separation along fractures with underlying material upwelling to fill the newly-created gap. Whether bands formed from freezing of fluid within fractures or from upwelling of buoyant ice is still under debate. High-resolution images show that band morphology is symmetric around a central axis, from which bilateral opening appears to have occurred. Some bands stand over 100m above the surrounding terrain. We present results from an ongoing study to determine whether band formation mechanisms are active or passive, and whether bands and complex ridges have related formation mechanisms. If bands formed as a result of passive (that is, thermal) support only, younger bands would be expected to have higher topography than older bands. Thus, a correlation between band topography and band age would be strong evidence for a passive support mechanism, and would imply that bands are much younger than previously supposed. If no trend is seen between band topography and age, then it is more likely that an active support mechanism, such as compositional buoyancy, and/or porosity, created the topography. We use two techniques, stereo photogrammetry and "2D" photoclinometry, to produce regional Digital Elevation Models (DEM) of Europa's topography over about 20% of the surface [Schenk et al., 2004], in order to test band formation models. We have identified a number of areas of Europa for which stereo data of reasonable quality exists, and which contain bands and complex ridges that can be readily mapped. We are constructing partial geological maps of all the areas for which we have suitable coverage, using the original Galileo observations at the highest possible resolutions, focusing specifically on bands and complex ridges. We here present results from three of our study areas, the E12 "wedges" region, the E4 high-resolution region and the E19 Rhadamanthys observation. We present stratigraphic ages of the bands and ridges in these regions, and determine relationships between age, morphological characteristics and topographic elevation. These results will be interpreted within the framework of current models for the formation of Europa's bands and complex ridges.
Prockter Louise
Schenk Paul
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