The nature and origin of Charon's smooth plains
The nature and origin of Charon's smooth plains
No Thumbnail Available
Files
Date
2019-05-01
Authors
Beyer, Ross A.
Spencer, John R. (John Robert), 1957-
McKinnon, William B.
Nimmo, Francis
Beddingfield, Chloe
Grundy, W. M.
Ennico, K.
Keane, James Tuttle
Moore, J. (Jeff)
Olkin, Cathy B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Charon displays extensive plains that cover the equatorial area and south to the terminator on the sub-Pluto hemisphere observed by New Horizons. We hypothesize that these plains are a result of Charon's global extension and early subsurface ocean yielding a large cryoflow that completely resurfaced this area leaving the plains and other features that we observe today. The cryoflow consisted of ammonia-rich material, and could have resurfaced this area either by cryovolcanic effusion similar to lunar maria emplacement or a mechanism similar to magmatic stoping where lithospheric blocks foundered. Geological observations, modeling of possible flow rheology, and an analysis of rille orientations support these hypotheses.
Description
Keywords
Charon (Satellite)--Surface
Citation
Beyer, Ross A., John R. Spencer, William B. McKinnon, Francis Nimmo, Chloe Beddingfield, W.M. Grundy, K. Ennico, et al. 2019. "The nature and origin of Charon's smooth plains". Icarus -New York. 323: 16-32.