Venusian Ejecta Parabolas: Comparing Theory with Observations

Details Venusian Ejecta Parabolas: Comparing Theory with Observations Venusian Ejecta Parabolas: Comparing Theory with Observations

Jan 1998

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998icar..131..123s&link_type=abstract

Icarus, Volume 131, Issue 1, pp. 123-137.

Physics

13

Scientific paper

The Magellan radar imager detected approximately 60 dark (i.e., low backscatter cross section) parabola-shaped features on the surface of Venus; each parabola is oriented with the open end toward the west and envelops an impact crater near its ``focus.'' In this paper, we use a model of parabola formation to fit the 58 venusian parabolas observed to date, as well as 9 circular features that are similar to the parabolas; we achieve good results for ~65% of the 41 parabolas that meet the conditions for the model to apply. As a result of modeling the parabolas, we derive a quantitative description of the distribution of small (~1 cm to ~1 μm in diameter) impact ejecta over a planetary surface. Our results agree well with the distribution of fine impact ejecta derived for the Terrestrial impact crater Chicxulub. In addition, our results lead to a method for estimating the quantity of fine-grained material available on Venus for surface transport processes such as saltation.

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