Geomorphology

Earth. Image from NOAA.
Earth. Image from NOAA.

What is Geomorphology?

Geomorphology studies the features on planetary surfaces and reconstructs the history of their formation, inferring the physical processes that acted on the surface. Planetary geomorphology includes study of several classes of surface feature:

  • Impact features – (multi-ringed basins, craters)
  • Volcanic and tectonic features -(lava flows, fissures, rilles)
  • Space weathering – erosional effects generated by the harsh environment of space (continuous micrometeorite bombardment, high-energy particle rain, impact gardening). For example, the thin dust cover on the surface of the lunar regolith is a result of micrometeorite bombardment.
  • Hydrological features – the liquid involved can range from water to hydrocarbon and ammonia, depending on the location within the Solar System.

The history of a planetary surface can be deciphered by mapping features from top to bottom according to their deposition sequence, as first determined on terrestrial strata by Nicolas Steno. For example, stratigraphic mapping prepared the Apollo astronauts for the field geology they would encounter on their lunar missions. Overlapping sequences were identified on images taken by the Lunar Orbiter program, and these were used to prepare a lunar stratigraphic column and geological map of the Moon.