Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufm.p43e..03p&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #P43E-03
Physics
[5417] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Gravitational Fields, [5430] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Interiors, [6235] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Mercury, [8138] Tectonophysics / Lithospheric Flexure
Scientific paper
MESSENGER entered an eccentric, near-polar orbit about Mercury in March 2011, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit the solar system's innermost planet. As part of MESSENGER's geophysics investigation, the Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA) is ranging to the surface of Mercury when the spacecraft slant range is less than about 1500 km, largely over the northern hemisphere. Tracking of radio signal transmissions from MESSENGER's low- and high-gain antennas is yielding detailed information on Mercury's gravity field. Regional variations in the gravity field and in topography provide information on the mechanisms of topographic compensation, including constraints on crustal thickness (hc) and effective elastic thickness (Te). Representation of both the topography and gravity fields with spherical harmonics allows analyses at similar resolutions. However, this approach can be problematical due to limited MLA sampling, as well as degraded gravity resolution, in the southern hemisphere. Analyses in the northern hemisphere that are largely spatially based can circumvent this problem to some extent by using aggregate solutions rather than individual spectral components. Here we report on spatially based efforts to determine hc and Te at a variety of locales in the northern hemisphere. Early results yield only upper bounds on crustal thickness but do indicate more robust conclusions about effective elastic thickness and its possible variation with load age. As Te can be used as a surrogate for interior heat flow, such results can place constraints on Mercury's thermal history.
Hauck Steven A.
Head James W.
Johnson Clifton L.
Lemoine Frank G.
Margot Joelle
No associations
LandOfFree
Mercury Lithosphere and Crustal Properties from MESSENGER Orbital Observations 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 Mercury Lithosphere and Crustal Properties from MESSENGER Orbital Observations, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mercury Lithosphere and Crustal Properties from MESSENGER Orbital Observations will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-872678