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Space Weathering

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Definition

Space weathering describes all the effects caused by the interaction between the surface of an airless planetary body and the space environment.

Overview

The term space weathering summarizes alteration processes on an atmosphereless planetary surface due to the interaction of the surface material or regolith with the space environment. As the direct contact layer between the planetary body and space, the surface is permanently reworked and physically and/or chemically modified by micrometeorite impacts, galactic and solar cosmic rays, solar irradiation, and the solar wind. These weathering processes may strongly affect the optical properties of the surface material and have to be taken into account in the analysis of remotely sensed observations.

The planetary surface is pulverized and turned over by a continuous micrometeorite bombardment. Depending on the kinetic energy involved, micrometeorite impacts may result in the melting of material and the formation of glass-welded...

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References and Further Reading

  • Chapman CR (2004) Space weathering of asteroid surfaces. Ann Rev Earth Planet Sci 32:539–567. doi:10.1146/annurev.earth.32.101802.120453

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  • Hapke B (2001) Space weathering from mercury to the asteroid belt. J Geophys Res 106(E5):10039–10073. doi:10.1029/2000JE001338

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  • Lucey P, Korotev RL, Gillis JJ, Taylor LA, Lawrence D, Campbell BA, Elphic R, Feldman B, Hood LL, Hunten D, Mendillo M, Noble S, Papike JJ, Reedy RC, Lawson S, Prettyman T, Gasnault O, Maurice S (2006) Understanding the lunar surface and space-moon interactions. Rev Mineral Geochem 60:83–219

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  • Pieters CM, Fischer EM, Rode O, Basu A (1993) Optical effects of space weathering: the role of the finest fraction. J Geophys Res 98(E11):20817–20824. doi:10.1029/93JE02467

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. DLR, Institute of Planetary Research, Rutherfordstrasse 2, 12489, Berlin, Germany

    Harald Hoffmann

Authors
  1. Harald Hoffmann
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Harald Hoffmann .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Hoffmann, H. (2014). Space Weathering. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1472-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1472-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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