Definition
Linear to arcuate positive elevation features on icy satellites.
Note
In a strict sense, the term “ridge” is used on Europa for double ridges.
Category
A type of lineament on Europa.
Description
The morphology of ridges is very consistent over long distances, 10s–1000s of km, with the height and width remaining uniform along the length (Prockter et al. 2010). Ridges are up to 200 m high. Ridges consist of a central trough flanked by two ridges on either side. The inner slopes are characterized by linear alternating ridges and grooves that are parallel to each other and are normal to the strike of the ridge. Four units have been identified on the outer ridge slope: (1) a rough-textured upper slope, (2) low-albedo terraces that are flanked downslope by scarps whose higher albedo may be due to exposure of fresh material on steeper slopes, (3) an intermediate albedo, smooth, lower-slope unit, and (4) a unit of hummocky, low-albedo deposit interpreted to be local accumulations...
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
References
Aydin A (2006) Failure modes of the lineaments on Jupiter’s moon, Europa: implications for the evolution of its icy crust. J Struct Geol 28:2222–2236
Collins GC, McKinnon WB, Moore JM, Nimmo F, Pappalardo RT, Prockter LM, Schenk PM (2010) Tectonics of the outer planet satellites. In: Schultz RA, Watters TR (eds) Planetary tectonics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 264–350
Coulter CE (2009) Kinematic and morphological evolution of Europa’s ridges. Master’s thesis, University of Idaho
Figuerdo PH, Greeley R (2004) Resurfacing history of Europa from pole-to-pole geological mapping. Icarus 167:287–312
Gaidos EJ, Nimmo F (2000) Tectonics and water on Europa. Nature, v. 405, p. 637
Greenberg R, Geissler P, Hoppa G, Tufts BR, Durda DD, Pappalardo R, Head JW, Greeley R, Sullivan R, Carr MH (1998) Tectonic processes on Europa: tidal stresses, mechanical response, and visible features. Icarus 135:64–78
Head JW, Pappalardo RT, Sullivan R (1999) Europa: morphological characteristics of ridges and triple bands from Galileo data (E4 and E6) and assessment of a linear diapirism model. J Geophys Res 104:24,223–24,236
Kadel SD, Fagents SA, Greeley R, the Galileo SSI team (1998) Trough-bounding ridge pairs on Europa-considerations for an endogenic model of formation. Lunar Planet Sci XXIX, abstract #1078, Houston
Kattenhorn SA, Hurford TA (2009) Tectonics of Europa. In: Pappalardo RT, McKinnon WB, Khurana K (eds) Europa. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, pp 199–236
Lucchitta BK, Soderblom LA, Ferguson HM (1981) Structures on Europa. LPS 12B:1555–1567
Melosh HJ, Turtle EP (2004) Ridges on Europa: origin by incremental ice-wedging. Lunar Planet Sci Conf XXXV, abstract #2029, Houston
Pappalardo RT (2011) What we don’t know about Europa. 42nd Lunar Planet Sci Conf, abstract #1635, Houston
Pappalardo R, Coon MD (1996) A sea ice analog for the surface of Europa. Lunar Planet Sci XXVII:997–998, abstract #1499, Houston
Pappalardo RT, Head JW, Sherman ND, Greeley R, Sullivan RJ et al (1998) Classification of European ridges and troughs and a possible genetic sequence. Lunar Planet Sci Conf XXIX, abstract #1859, Houston
Pappalardo RT, Belton MJS, Breneman HH, Carr MH, Chapman CR, et al (1999) Does Europa have a subsurface ocean?: evaluation of the geological evidence. J Geophys Res E Planet 104:24015e24055
Pappalardo RT, Nimmo F, Jeff M (2006) Reorientation of Mini-Moons: enceladus and Miranda. UCLA Planetary Science Seminar
Prockter LM, Patterson GW (2009) Morphology and evolution of Europa’s ridges and bands. In: Pappalardo RT, McKinnon WB, Khurana K (eds) Europa. The University of Arizona Press, Tucson, pp 199–236
Prockter LM, Nimmo F, Pappalardo RT (2005) A shear heating origin for ridges on Triton. Geophys Res Lett 32:L14202. doi:10.1029/2005gl022832
Prockter LM et al (2010) Characteristics of icy surfaces. In: Grasset O, Blanc M, Coustenis A, Durham WB, Hussmann H, Pappalardo RT, Turrini D (eds) Satellites of the outer solar system. Springer, Netherlands, pp 61–109
Sullivan R, Greeley R, Homan K, Klemaszewski J, Belton MJS, Carr MH, Chapman CR, Tufts R, Head JW III, Pappalardo R, Moore J, Thomas P (1998) Episodic plate separation and fracture infill on the surface of Europa. Nature 391(6665):371–373
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this entry
Cite this entry
Patthoff, D.A. (2014). Ridge (Icy Moons). In: Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_308-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_308-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-9213-9
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences