Emplacement of Multiple Flow Units on Very Shallow Slopes, East Kawelu Planitia Flow Field, Venus
Abstract
Lobate flows with variable radar brightness occur at several locations on Venus. Here we present preliminary mapping results for a lava flow field on the eastern side of Kawelu Planitia, centered at approximately 41 deg N, 251 deg E. Numerous individual flows of varying brightness can be traced for up to 400 km at this location. Megallan image F-MIDRP.40N251;1 contains two major flow complexes as well as a distinct minor flow field associated with a volcanic dome. The southern flow field (unit F) changes from radar dark to radar bright in a convex arc from west to east. The flow path is diverted by a ridge system (unit B) and associated N-S faulted zone (unit A) evident in the Magellan altimetry data. The 130-km-long radar-bright flow field located at 41.5 deg N and 249-250 deg E is comprised of a narrow, channeled flow (unit E) overlying an intermediate brightness flow (unit D), all of which appears to emanate from a solitary dome at 249 deg E. The southern lobe of unit E disappears under a broad leveed channel (41.3 deg N, 250.1 deg E) in unit 5, only to reappear south of the unit 5 boundary. The source of this largest flow field is not evident, but could be associated with the region of small domes west of the F-MIDRP image (centered at 41 deg N, 246 deg E). Another possible source is the fractured area south of unit C. The flow complex is clearly a conglomeration of many flow episodes, not necessarily from a single source.
- Publication:
-
Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
- Pub Date:
- March 1993
- Bibcode:
- 1993LPI....24..637H
- Keywords:
-
- Altimetry;
- Cones (Volcanoes);
- Flow Distribution;
- Fluid Flow;
- Lava;
- Planetary Geology;
- Slopes;
- Venus Surface;
- Boundaries;
- Brightness;
- Magellan Spacecraft (Nasa);
- Radar Imagery;
- Venus (Planet);
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration