Planetary Tectonics

About this book

This 2009 book describes the tectonic landforms resulting from major internal and external forces acting on the outer layers of solid bodies throughout the Solar System. It presents a detailed survey of tectonic structures at a range of length scales found on Mercury, Venus, the Moon, Mars, the outer planet satellites, and asteroids. A diverse range of models for the sources of tectonic stresses acting on silicate and icy crusts is outlined, comparing processes acting throughout the Solar System. Rheological and mechanical properties of planetary crusts and lithospheres are discussed to understand how and why tectonic stresses manifest themselves differently on various bodies. Results from fault population data are assessed in detail. The book provides methods for mapping and analysing planetary tectonic features, and is illustrated with diagrams and spectacular images returned by manned and robotic spacecraft. It forms an essential reference for researchers and students in planetary geology and tectonics.

Contents

Preface

1. Introduction Thomas R. Watters and Richard A. Schultz
2. The tectonics of Mercury Thomas R. Watters and Francis Nimmo
3. Venus tectonics George E. McGill, Ellen R. Stofan and Suzanne E. Smrekar
4. Lunar tectonics Thomas R. Watters and Catherine Johnson
5. Mars tectonics Matthew P. Golombek and Roger J. Phillips
6. Tectonics of small bodies Peter C. Thomas and Louise M. Prockter
7. Tectonics of the outer planet satellites Geoffrey C. Collins, William B. McKinnon, Jeffrey M. Moorse, Francis Nimmo, Robert T. Pappalardo, Louise M. Prockter and Paul M. Schenk
8. Planetary structural mapping Kenneth L. Tanaka, Robert Anderson, James M. Dohm, Vicki Hansen, George E. McGill, Robert T. Pappalardo, Richard A. Schultz and Thomas R. Watters
9. Strength and deformation of planetary lithospheres David L. Kohlstedt and Stephen J. Mackwell
10. Fault populations Richard A. Schultz, Roger Soliva, Chris H. Okubo and Daniel Meg

Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

Thomas R. Watters is a Senior Scientist in the Smithsonian Institution's Center for Earth and Planetary Studies at the National Air and Space Museum and Director of the Smithsonian's Regional Planetary Image Facility. He is involved in three planetary missions: Mars Express (MARSIS Radar Sounder team), MESSENGER (MDIS imaging team), and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LROC imaging team). He has served as Chair of the Planetary Geology Division of the Geological Society of America, guest editor for Geophysical Research Letters, and on the editorial board of the journal Geology. His research interests are planetary tectonics, and planetary geology and geophysics.

Richard A. Schultz is Professor of Geological Engineering and Geomechanics at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he teaches courses in geology, rock mechanics, and planetary science. He has served on the IUGS Commission on Comparative Planetology, as associate editor for the Journal of Geophysical Research, guest editor for the Journal of Structural Geology, and co-editor of the 35th U.S. Symposium on Rock Mechanics and the 33rd Symposium on Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering, with visiting professorships at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the University of Paris. His research interests include the evolution of fault systems on various planetary bodies.