Conamara Chaos region, Europa: Reconstruction of mobile polygonal ice blocks

Other

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

58

Planetology: Solar System Objects: Jovian Satellites, Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Origin And Evolution, Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Interiors

Scientific paper

New Galileo images of Europa reveal regions of chaotic terrain in otherwise highly-lineated background plains. Examination of Conamara Chaos shows that 59% of the region is composed of fine-textured matrix material lying at low elevations and formed by destruction of lineated plains, while the remainder consists of 139 fragmented polygons of linear-textured background plains. Using through-trending linear features, we reconstruct the original positions of chaos polygons and find that significant lateral translation and rotation have occurred: 78% of the polygons have undergone horizontal translations with most moving between 1 and 5 km, and 81% have rotated (average rotation of ~11°). Movement of polygons appears to be inward from the chaos margins and clockwise in the center, while polygon rotation is evenly clockwise and counterclockwise. Chaos formation in this region thus involves destruction of over half of the pre-existing terrain, and mobilization, translation, and rotation of the remaining polygons, implying elevated near-surface temperatures and a highly mobile substrate over lateral scales of ~100 km.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Conamara Chaos region, Europa: Reconstruction of mobile polygonal ice blocks does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Conamara Chaos region, Europa: Reconstruction of mobile polygonal ice blocks, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Conamara Chaos region, Europa: Reconstruction of mobile polygonal ice blocks will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1292337

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.