The topography and gravity of Mare Serenitatis: implications for subsidence of the mare surface

Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

9

Scientific paper

The long wavelength topography of Mare Serenitatis was analyzed using topographic data obtained by the Clementine laser ranging instrument (LIDAR). The topography shows that the lowest elevations in the mare surface occur near the margins of the basin. The present mare surface reflects a long period of volcanism, subsidence, and deformation. Subsidence is generally attributed to a Gaussian-shaped, superisostatic load from the mare basalts that results in flexure of the lunar lithosphere. Gravity data from Lunar Prospector suggest that the basalt sequence in the interior of Serenitatis is generally uniform in thickness and thins rapidly at the margins. This suggests that the topographic lows in the basin do not coincide with areas where the mare basalts are thick but rather occur where the basalts thin. The topographic lows also do not appear to coincide with accumulations of the youngest mare basalt units. The long wavelength topography of Mare Serenitatis may reflect subsidence influenced by pre-mare basalt basin topography and preexisting zones of lithospheric weakness.

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

The topography and gravity of Mare Serenitatis: implications for subsidence of the mare surface 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 The topography and gravity of Mare Serenitatis: implications for subsidence of the mare surface, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The topography and gravity of Mare Serenitatis: implications for subsidence of the mare surface will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-794148

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