Evolution of topography on comets. II. Icy craters and trenches

Journal Article · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Icarus (International Journal of the Solar System); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(90)90111-L· OSTI ID:6850466

Colwell, J E; Jakosky, B M; Sandor, B J; Stern, S A ^[1]

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1. Colorado Univ., Boulder (USA)

The determination of the effects of topography on the sublimation rates of comets and other icy bodies is presently approached via a model of ice heating and sublimation from topographical features. The energy balance equation is solved for cylindrical trenches and spherical craters; the model encompasses shadowing, solar heating, the trapping of thermal radiation and sublimed gas molecules, and reflection of sunlight within the cavity. Generally, an enhancement is found in the net sublimation rate for trenches and craters farther from the sun than some critical distance which depends on the albedo. 15 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6850466
• Journal Information: Icarus (International Journal of the Solar System); (USA), Vol. 85; ISSN 0019-1035
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMETS
TOPOGRAPHY
ALBEDO
CRATERS
GEOLOGY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METHANE
SOLAR HEATING
THERMAL RADIATION
ALKANES
CAVITIES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HEATING
HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RADIATIONS
640107* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Planetary Phenomena