Topographic Relaxation in a Spherical, Viscoelastic Planet: Implications for Long-Wavelength Topography and Compensation of Lunar Basins

Details Topographic Relaxation in a Spherical, Viscoelastic Planet: Implications for Long-Wavelength Topography and Compensation of Lunar Basins Topographic Relaxation in a Spherical, Viscoelastic Planet: Implications for Long-Wavelength Topography and Compensation of Lunar Basins

Jan 1998

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998lpico.957...57z&link_type=abstract

Origin of the Earth and Moon, Proceedings of the Conference held 1-3 December, 1998 in Monterey, California. LPI Contribution N

Mathematics

Logic

Elastic Shells, Moon, Topography, Viscoelasticity, Geomorphology, Lunar Evolution, Lithosphere, Gravity Anomalies, Planetary Mantles, Structural Basins, Models

Scientific paper

Topography and gravity anomalies on planets including the Earth and Moon have significant power at long wavelengths. The long wavelength anomalies can be supported statically by the elastic strength of the lithosphere or maintained dynamically through planetary mantle convection. The capacity of the elastic lithosphere to support topography increases sharply with decreasing planetary radius due to membrane stresses, according to models of a thin elastic shell. Although these simple models reveal important insights into the origin of long wavelength topography, the assumption that the elastic shell overlies an invisid fluid interior in thin elastic shell models has two drawbacks. First, the models are static with no time scales. Second, since the rheology of major constituents of terrestrial planets, silicates, is thermally activated, it is unlikely that a sharp rheological boundary can exist within the lithosphere. Particularly, the different compensation states of lunar basins suggest that thermal history is important for the topographic relaxation.

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