Impact melt creates spectacular morphologies on the Moon. Sometimes melt pools into large ponds, sometimes melt cascades down crater terraces, and sometimes melt forms channelized flows. The Egede A impact melt flows (as well as numerous other flows) are channelized with levees at their margins. Are there any analogues for channelized impact melt flows on Earth?
Yes! Levees occur naturally in terrestrial lava flows and develop as the edges of a lava flow cool and solidify. The lava flow can channelize with the levees help and make itself more thermally efficient. The levees allow the flow to travel farther from its source by slowing the cooling. The morphological similarity between lava flows and impact melt implies they behave in a similar manner and have similar properties (temperature and viscosity).
Explore more of Egede A crater in the full LROC NAC!
Related Posts: Winding Channel of Melt
Published by Drew Enns on 6 November 2012