On the evolution rate of small lunar craters.
Abstract
The absolute age and morphological evolution of small lunar craters (those ranging in diameter from about 1 m to 1 or 2 km) are considered. It is shown that these craters can be divided into five morphological classes (A, AB, B, BC, C) representing a continuous evolutionary sequence in terms of the sharpness of relief, with class A craters being the youngest and class C the most ancient. The establishment of a size-dependent rate of morphological evolution by Florensky et al. (1971) is reviewed, and crater lifetimes are estimated by crater-intersection analysis as well as in terms of the absolute ages of the lavas on which the craters developed. It is concluded that the rate of morphological evolution of small relief forms on the moon is approximately three orders of magnitude slower than on earth.
- Publication:
-
Lunar and Planetary Science Conference Proceedings
- Pub Date:
- April 1976
- Bibcode:
- 1976LPSC....7.1005B
- Keywords:
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- Geomorphology;
- Lunar Craters;
- Lunar Evolution;
- Radioactive Age Determination;
- Landforms;
- Lunar Geology;
- Lunar Maria;
- Lunar Photographs;
- Lunar Surface;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration