Publication Date:
2022-03-29
Description:
The long‐ and short‐term drivers and transport mechanisms of lunar rockfalls are currently not well understood, but could provide valuable information about the geologic processes that still shape the surface of the Moon today. Here, we compare the global distribution of rockfalls with relevant geophysical data, such as seismic, topographic, thermal, gravity anomaly, and tidal displacement data sets. Rockfalls appear to predominantly occur (a) on equator‐facing slopes and thus in regions with large thermal amplitudes, (b) on slope angles well above‐average (Δ ∼ 10°), and (c) in regions with above‐average rock abundance. We do not observe a qualitatively or statistically relevant relation between rockfall abundance, monitored Apollo‐era shallow seismic activity, and the distribution of visible tectogenetic features. Informed by our global analysis, we conduct a targeted, in‐depth study of 687 rockfall boulders and trajectories in 13 sites across the Moon, including 7 craters, 2 volcanic vents, 2 tectonic structures, and 2 unclassified geomorphic regions. We identify four different source region types, where the type appears to control the occurrence of rockfalls. The source region type in turn is controlled by surface age rather than geomorphic context. We find that rockfall trajectories are mainly controlled by the trigger energy and the geometry of the slope. Our results suggest that erratic small‐scale impacts (mainly in old, Imbrian‐Nectarian, shallow terranes), aided by solar‐induced thermal fatigue of fractured bedrock (mainly in young, Copernican‐Eratosthenian steep terranes), were the dominant, global‐scale long‐ and short‐term drivers of rockfalls in the Moon's recent geologic past.
Description:
Plain Language Summary:
The processes that drive rockfall occurrence are largely unknown, but could provide valuable information about the past and current evolution of the Moon's surface and interior. We compare the global distribution of rockfalls with a series of maps, such as seismic, topographic, thermal, and gravity anomaly maps and observe that rockfalls mainly occur (a) on equator‐facing slopes and thus in regions with large temperature differences, (b) on slope angles above‐average, and (c) in regions with rocky surfaces. We do not observe a relation between rockfall abundance, Apollo‐era seismic activity, and the distribution of visible tectonic features. Informed by our global‐scale analysis we study 687 rockfalls in 13 sites of interest in greater detail, including volcanic‐, tectonic‐, and impact‐related geomorphic regions. We observe that the source region type appears to control rockfall occurrence, which in turn is controlled by the surface age. We find that the lunar rockfall transport process appears to be mainly controlled by the driver energy and the steepness of the slope. Our results suggest that small‐scale impacts (mainly in old, shallow regions) and solar‐driven thermal breakdown of fractured bedrock (mainly in young, steep regions) were the main, global‐scale drivers of rockfalls in the Moon's recent geologic past.
Description:
Key Points:
We study the drivers and transport mechanisms of lunar rockfalls on a local and global scale.
The two dominant, global‐scale rockfall drivers appear to be: (a) impacts and (b) solar‐driven thermal fatigue.
The rockfall driver depends on the source region age and type rather than the geomorphic context.
Description:
Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
Description:
ETH Zurich
Description:
Engineering Geology group, Department of Earth Sciences, International Max Planck Research School
Description:
http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc/search
Keywords:
ddc:523
Language:
English
Type:
doc-type:article
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