When
2 p.m., Feb. 5, 2016
Where
Kuiper Space Sciences 308
Dr. Caleb I. Fassett
Research Associate
Dept. of Astronomy
Mount Holyoke College
Candidate for faculty position, Earth Dynamics Observatory (comparative planetology)
Landform Evolution Rates on the Moon and Mercury
When we look at the Moon or Mercury, we see densely cratered surfaces, and it is tempting to think that these airless bodies experience no ongoing erosion or topographic change. However, slow landform evolution is occurring, which, over the course of billions of years, becomes a significant process. By studying the degradation of impact craters, we can infer both the rate at which landform evolution occurs and better understand the underlying processes causing topographic change. The derived rates can then be used to estimate the age of craters, surface units, and other landforms based on their topography. In addition, a comparison with similar measurements on Mercury suggests that it experiences much faster landscape evolution rates than the Moon.
Research Associate
Dept. of Astronomy
Mount Holyoke College
Candidate for faculty position, Earth Dynamics Observatory (comparative planetology)
Landform Evolution Rates on the Moon and Mercury
When we look at the Moon or Mercury, we see densely cratered surfaces, and it is tempting to think that these airless bodies experience no ongoing erosion or topographic change. However, slow landform evolution is occurring, which, over the course of billions of years, becomes a significant process. By studying the degradation of impact craters, we can infer both the rate at which landform evolution occurs and better understand the underlying processes causing topographic change. The derived rates can then be used to estimate the age of craters, surface units, and other landforms based on their topography. In addition, a comparison with similar measurements on Mercury suggests that it experiences much faster landscape evolution rates than the Moon.
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