Brown University

Fatigue, Fracture, and Flow: Modeling the Geologic Resurfacing of Icy Satellites

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Abstract:
Geodynamic models are developed to understand the geologic evolution of icy satellites and Kuiper belt objects. The key scientific questions addressed by this thesis are: 1) did solid-state convection in the ice I shell drive lithospheric deformation and geologic resurfacing on icy bodies, 2) how does the thermal evolution of icy satellites relate to their internal structure and geologic history, 3) how do repeated tidal stresses affect the rheology of the lithosphere, 4) do eutectic melts, such as ammonia-dihydride, play a role in generating near surface liquids on icy satellites? Numerical modeling as well as laboratory experiments are used to investigate these processes. Specific geologic terrains examined in this thesis include grooved terrain on Ganymede, coronae on Miranda, tectonic terrains on Pluto and Europa, and cantaloupe terrain on Triton.
Notes:
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Brown University, 2017

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Citation

Hammond, Noah Patrick, "Fatigue, Fracture, and Flow: Modeling the Geologic Resurfacing of Icy Satellites" (2017). Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences Theses and Dissertations. Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library. https://doi.org/10.7301/Z0C53J90

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