Publication Date:
2014-03-12
Description:
We report the surface roughness analysis of the lunar highlands for the baseline range 0.15–100 km. We use the Median Differential Slope α m to investigate the scale dependency of the roughness and derive the global α m distribution from SELENE Laser Altimeter and Terrain Camera data. While α m ( l ) versus baseline l (km) plots vary among different highland types, all highlands commonly show a peak at 3–30 km. The Pre-Nectarian surface shows a relatively large α m (20–30 km). Our analysis is supported by the simulation of synthetic surface cratering models and crater statistics. In our simulation, a peak of α m (30 km) is successfully reproduced. The actual crater density shows good correlation with an empirical roughness indicator. However, a large part of the Nectarian surface shows a peak at 6–9 km baseline. This peak may be caused by secondary craters and ejecta deposit textures from the Nectarian system basins.
Print ISSN:
0094-8276
Electronic ISSN:
1944-8007
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics