Introduction to Planetary Geomorphology

254 Pages·2013·24.208 MB·English

by  Ronald Greeley

more information – www.cambridge.org/9780521867115

Introduction to Planetary Geomorphology
NearlyallmajorplanetsandmoonsinourSolarSystemhavebeen
visited by spacecraft, and the data they have returned have
revealedtheincrediblediversityofplanetarysurfaces.Featuring
awealthofimages,thistextbookexploresthegeologicevolution
oftheplanetsandmoons.
Introductory chapters discuss how information gathered from
spacecraftisusedtounravelthegeologiccomplexitiesofourSolar
System. Subsequent chapters focus on current understandings of
planetarysystems.Thetextbookshowshowplanetaryimagesand
remotesensingdataareanalyzedthroughtheapplicationoffunda-
mentalgeologicprinciples.Itdrawsonresultsfromspacecraftsent
throughouttheSolarSystembyNASAandotherspaceagencies.
Aimed at undergraduate students in planetary geology, geo-
science, astronomy, and Solar System science, it highlights the
differencesandsimilaritiesofplanetarysurfacesatalevelthatcan
bereadilyunderstoodbynon-specialists.
Electronic versions of figures from the book are available at
www.cambridge.org/Greeley.
RONALD GREELEY (1939–2011)wasaRegents’Professorinthe
Schoolof Earthand SpaceExploration, ArizonaStateUniversity,
DirectoroftheNASA–ASURegionalPlanetaryImageFacility,and
PrincipalInvestigatorofthePlanetaryAeolianLaboratoryatNASA-
AmesResearchCenter.Heco-authoredseveralwell-knownbooks
on planetary surfaces, including The Compact NASA Atlas of the
Solar System and Planetary Mapping (both available from
CambridgeUniversityPress).

Introduction to
Planetary
Geomorphology
Ronald Greeley
ArizonaStateUniversity
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
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Firstpublished2013
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AcatalogrecordforthispublicationisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary
LibraryofCongressCataloginPublicationdata
Greeley,Ronald.
Introductiontoplanetarygeomorphology/RonaldGreeley.
p. cm.
ISBN978-0-521-86711-5(hardback)
1. Planets–Geology–Popularworks. 2. Planets–Crust–Popular
works. 3. Geomorphology. I. Title.
QB603.G46.G74 2013
551.41099902–dc23
2011053270
ISBN978-0-521-86711-5Hardback
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CONTENTS
ForewordbyRobertT.Pappalardo pagexi 2.6 Geophysicaldata 25
Preface xiii 2.7 Imageprocessing 26
Acknowledgments xiv 2.8 Resolution 28
2.9 Electronicdatarecords(EDRs) 30
1 Introduction 1 2.10 Cartography 30
1.1 SolarSystemoverview 1 Assignments 33
1.1.1 Theterrestrialplanets 1
1.1.2 Thegiantplanets 3 3 Planetarymorphologicprocesses 34
1.1.3 Smallbodies,Pluto,and 3.1 Introduction 34
“dwarfplanets” 4 3.2 Tectonism 34
1.2 ObjectivesofSolarSystemexploration 6 3.3 Volcanicprocesses 37
1.2.1 Planetarygeologyobjectives 6 3.3.1 Volcaniceruptions 38
1.2.2 Astrobiology 7 3.3.2 Volcanicmorphology 38
1.3 StrategyforSolarSystemexploration 7 3.3.3 Volcaniccraters 40
1.4 Flightprojects 9 3.3.4 Intrusivestructures 42
1.5 Planetarydata 12 3.4 Impactcratering 43
1.6 Planetaryresearchresults 13 3.4.1 Impactcrateringmechanics 43
Assignments 14 3.4.2 ImpactcratersonEarth 44
3.4.3 Impactcratersandplanetary
2 Planetarygeomorphologymethods 15 environments 50
2.1 Introduction 15 3.5 Gradation 51
2.2 Approach 15 3.5.1 Weathering 51
2.3 Planetarygeologicmaps 17 3.5.2 Masswasting 53
2.4 Geologictime 20 3.5.3 Processesassociatedwiththe
2.5 Remotesensingdata 22 hydrologiccycle 53
2.5.1 Visibleimagingdata 23 3.5.4 Aeolianprocesses 54
2.5.2 Multispectraldata 24 3.5.5 Periglacialprocesses 56
2.5.3 Thermaldata 24 3.6 Summary 58
2.5.4 Radarimagingdata 24 Assignments 58
2.5.5 Ultraviolet,X-ray,andgamma-raydata 25
vii
Contents viii
4 Earth’sMoon 59 7.2 Exploration 126
7.3 Interior 129
4.1 Introduction 59
7.4 Surfacecomposition 130
4.2 Lunarexploration 59
7.5 Geomorphology 131
4.2.1 Pre-Apollostudies 59
7.5.1 Physiography 131
4.2.2 TheApolloera 62
7.5.2 Impactcraters 132
4.2.3 Post-Apolloexploration 65
7.5.3 Volcanicfeatures 134
4.3 Interiorcharacteristics 71
7.5.4 Tectonicfeatures 137
4.4 Surfacecomposition 72
7.5.5 Gradationfeatures 139
4.5 Geomorphology 75
7.6 Geologichistory 145
4.5.1 Impactcratersandbasins 75
Assignments 146
4.5.2 Highlandplains 77
4.5.3 Mareterrains 77
8 TheJupitersystem 147
4.5.4 Sinuousrilles 78
8.1 Introduction 147
4.5.5 Volcanicconstructs 82
8.2 Exploration 147
4.5.6 Tectonicfeatures 82
8.3 Jupiter 148
4.5.7 Gradationalfeatures 84
8.4 Io 149
4.6 GeologichistoryoftheMoon 85
8.4.1 Impactfeatures(none!) 152
Assignments 90
8.4.2 Volcanicfeatures 152
5 Mercury 91 8.4.3 Tectonicfeatures 155
5.1 Introduction 91 8.4.4 Gradationfeatures 155
5.2 Mercuryexploration 91 8.4.5 Iosummary 156
5.3 Interiorcharacteristics 92 8.5 Europa 156
5.4 Surfacecomposition 93 8.5.1 Impactfeatures 157
5.5 Geomorphology 94 8.5.2 Tectonicfeatures 158
5.5.1 Generalphysiography 94 8.5.3 Volcanicfeatures 160
5.5.2 Impactcraters 95 8.5.4 Gradationfeatures 162
5.5.3 Multi-ringbasins 99 8.5.5 Europasummary 162
5.5.4 Volcanicfeatures 102 8.6 Ganymede 162
5.5.5 Tectonicfeatures 103 8.6.1 Physiography 162
5.5.6 Gradationfeatures 104 8.6.2 Impactfeatures 163
5.6 Geologichistory 104 8.6.3 Tectonicfeatures 165
Assignments 105 8.6.4 Volcanicfeatures 168
8.6.5 Gradationfeatures 168
6 Venus 106 8.6.6 Ganymedesummary 169
6.1 Introduction 106 8.7 Callisto 170
6.2 Venusexploration 106 8.7.1 Physiography 170
6.3 Interiorcharacteristics 112 8.7.2 Impactfeatures 171
6.4 Surfacecomposition 113 8.7.3 Gradationfeatures 173
6.5 Geomorphology 113 8.7.4 Callistosummary 174
6.5.1 Generalphysiography 113 8.8 Smallmoonsandrings 174
6.5.2 Impactcraters 114 8.9 Summary 175
6.5.3 Volcanicfeatures 116 Assignments 176
6.5.4 Tectonicfeatures 118
6.5.5 Gradationfeatures 120 9 TheSaturnsystem 177
6.6 Geologichistory 124 9.1 Introduction 177
Assignments 125 9.2 Exploration 177
9.3 Saturn 178
7 Mars 126 9.4 Satellites 178
7.1 Introduction 126 9.5 Titan 179