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Terrace width variations in complex lunar craters
Author(s) -
Pearce Steven J.,
Melosh H. J.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl013i013p01419
Subject(s) - impact crater , slumping , terrace (agriculture) , geology , bedrock , mass wasting , geomorphology , geophysics , geometry , astrobiology , physics , landslide , archaeology , mathematics , history
The widths of terrace structures in complex craters on the moon are compared to existing theoretical models of their origin. Terrace widths in an individual crater increase monotonically outward toward the crater rim. Similarly, the width W of the terraces lying closest to the rim of a crater of diameter D increases monotonically, obeying a least squares power law relation W(km) = 0.09D 0.87 (km). A simple model of slumping that ignores inertial forces and assumes a constant bedrock yield strength is in good agreement with the observations.