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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Vertical movement in mare basins - Relation to mare emplacement, basin tectonics, and lunar thermal history

A hypothesis is developed that the spatial and temporal distributions of linear rilles and mare ridges in the mare regions of the moon are the products of two superposed stress systems: a local stress due to lithospheric loading by basalt fill in the mare basin, and a global thermal stress due to the thermal history of the lunar interior. Quantitative models for stress in the Serenitatis basin area, including the global thermal stress associated with lunar thermal history, are presented and used to account for the spatial distribution, the orientations, and the formation times of rilles and ridges in that region. The models provide a simple explanation for the localization of the most recent eruption sites of mare basalt magmas to mare basin edges.

Solomon, S. C.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Lunar mare ridge orientation - Implications for lunar tectonic models

Four circular mare basins were selected for ridge orientation analysis: Crisium, Imbrium, Serenitatis and Tranquillitatis. In each basin a central area was identified in which ridges were neither concentric with basin edges nor seemed to be extensions of significant highland structural trends. Ridge orientations in these central areas and in the remaining marginal areas were measured separately and rose diagrams plotted for each. Rose diagrams of ridge orientations in the four circular mare basins show a narrow dispersion with a statistical average nearly north. Trends of basin margin ridges have a high deviation and are polymodal with maxima in the northwest, north and northeast directions. Mare ridges which display a preferred northern trend result from an east-west compressive stress field.

Fagin, S. W.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Tectonic stress in the plates

In the present paper, the basic set of global intraplate stress orientation data is plotted and tabulated. Although the global intraplate stress field is complicated, several large-scale patterns can be seen. Much of stable North America is characterized by an E-W to NE-SW trend for the maximum compressive stress. South American lithosphere beneath the Andes, and perhaps farther east in the stable interior, has horizontal compressive stresses trending E-W to NW-SE. Western Europe north of the Alps is characterized by a NW-SE trending maximum horizontal compression, while Asia has the maximum horizontal compressive stress trending more nearly N-S, especially near the Himalayan front.

Richardson, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Application of laser ranging and VLBI data to a study of plate tectonic driving forces

The measurability of changes in plate driving or resistive forces associated with plate boundary earthquakes by laser rangefinding or VLBI is considered with emphasis on those aspects of plate forces that can be characterized by such measurements. Topics covered include: (1) analytic solutions for two dimensional stress diffusion in a plate following earthquake faulting on a finite fault; (2) two dimensional finite-element solutions for the global state of stress at the Earth's surface for possible plate driving forces; and (3) finite-element solutions for three dimensional stress diffusion in a viscoelastic Earth following earthquake faulting.

Solomon, S. C.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Application of Laser Ranging and VLBI Data to a Study of Plate Tectonic Driving Forces

The conditions under which changes in plate driving or resistive forces associated with plate boundary earthquakes are measurable with laser ranging or very long base interferometry were investigated. Aspects of plate forces that can be characterized by such measurements were identified. Analytic solutions for two dimensional stress diffusion in a viscoelastic plate following earthquake faulting on a finite fault, finite element solutions for three dimensional stress diffusion in a viscoelastic Earth following earthquake faulting, and quantitative constraints from modeling of global intraplate stress on the magnitude of deviatoric stress in the lithosphere are among the topics discussed.

Solomon, S. C.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Global tectonic studies: Hotspots and anomalous topography

Volcanic activity on Earth and its secular variations are compared with that on other terrestrial planets. Activity at divergent, transform, and convergent plate margins is described with particular emphasis on hot spots and flood basalts. The timing and causing of uplifting above 500 meters, which in not associated with either plate boundaries or the normal nonplate margin edges of continents is considered with particular focus on the Guyana Highlands in southern Venezuela and western British Guiana, and the Brazilian Highlands in the central, eastern, and southern parts of the country. The mode and mechanism of plateau uplifting and the re-elevation of old mountain belts and subsidence of intra-continental basins are also discussed.

Burke, K.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Topography and tectonics of mid-oceanic ridge axes

Numerical fluid dynamic models of mid-oceanic ridge axes were constructed using distributions of material properties constrained by seismic studies and thermal calculations. The calculations indicate that spreading is passive except for forces caused by density differences due to thermal expansion and partial melt. Except for geometric differences due to temperature distribution, one set of mechanical properties can adequately explain central rifts of slow ridges and central peaks of fast ridges. Viscous head loss in the upwelling material dominates at low spreading rates where material ascends through a narrow conduit. Thermal expansion and partial melting dominate at high spreading rates where a wide low viscosity crustal magma chamber is present. The preferred rheology is 10 to the 20th poise for the upwelling lithosphere; less than 5 x 10 to the 17th for the crustal magma chamber and axial intrusion zone at fast ridges, and a yield stress of 200 bars for the lithosphere. The calculation correctly predicts the existence of central peaks at 'hot-spot' ridges, where seismic evidence indicates a large magma chamber.

Sleep, N. H.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Radar, an optimum remote-sensing tool for detailed plate tectonic analysis and its application to hydrocarbon exploration (an example in Irian Jaya Indonesia)

Geometric, geomorphic, and structural information derived from the examination of radar imagery and combined with geologic and geophysical evidences strongly indicates that Salawati Island was attached to the Irian Jaya mainland during the time of Miocene lower Pliocene reef development, and that it was separated in middle Pliocene to Pleistocene time, opening the Sele Strait rift zone. The island moved 17.5 km southwestward after an initial counterclockwise rotation of 13 deg. The rift zone is subsequent to the creation of the large left lateral Sorong fault zone that is part of the transitional area separating the westward-moving Pacific plate from the relatively stable Australian plate. The motion was triggered during a widespread magmatic intrusion of the Sorong fault zone, when the basalt infiltrated a right lateral fault system in the area of the present Sele Strait.

Froidevaux, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Evaluation of existing knowledge of the tectonic history and lithospheric structure of South America

While data is available on the lithospheric and crustal structure of the Andes region of South America, there is limited knowledge of these aspects of the eastern portion of the continent. For this reason, a surface wave dispersion study of the area was initiated. Long period seismograms were obtained for a tripartite analysis of dispersion. A flow chart of the analysis to be conducted is presented along with a preliminary geologic/tectonic map that was prepared. Efforts to characterize the provinces identified in terms of their geological and geophysical parameters continue.

Keller, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The tectonics of anorthosite massifs

Anorthosite massifs developed approximately 1.4 to 1.5 billion years ago along an arch which developed parallel to a zone of continental separation as a block which included North America, Europe, and probably Asia separated from a block which included parts of South America, Africa, India, and Australia. Anorthosite massifs also developed at the same time along a belt which runs through the continents which comprise Gondwanaland (South America), Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica. This was a zone of continental separation which subsequently became a zone of continental collision about 1.2 billion years ago. The northern anorthosite belt also parallels an orogenic belt which was active between 1.8 and 1.7 billion years ago. Heat generated during this mountain building period helped in the formation of the anorthosites.

Seyfert, C. K.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Bathymetric and tectonics of Indian Ocean using MAGSAT data

The quality of the MAGSAT data was assessed, especially the characterization of spikes. The spectral passbands of significance to geophysical analysis were analyzed, including computations of spectral coherence between nearby repeating satellite tracks. A spectrum modeling effort was begun which is designed to show the effect of spacecraft attitude on the observability of magnetic anomalies. The data obtained is to be used to compute crustal anomaly maps by modeling the equivalent dipoles in the project area.

Sailor, R. V.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Investigating tectonic and bathymetric features of the Indian Ocean using MAGSAT magnetic anomaly data

MAGSAT Investigator-B tapes were preprocessed by (1) removing all data points with obvious erroneous values and location errors; (2) removing smaller spikes (typically 15 nT or more), and deleting data tracks with fewer than 20 points; and (3) removing a linear trend from each track. The remaining data were recorded on tape for use by the equivalent source mapping (ESMAP) program which uses a least squares algorithm to fit the magnetization parameter of the grid of equivalent source dipoles in the crust to satellite data acquired at different times and locations. ESMAP was implemented on the TASC computing system and modified to read preprocessed MAGSAT tapes and interface with TASC plotting software. Some verification of the software was accomplished. Gridded 1-degree mean values of gravity anomaly and sea surface undulation computed from SEASAT radar altimeter were obtained and brought on line.

Lazarewicz, A. R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Late Cenozoic alkaline volcanism in the northwestern Caribbean - Tectonic setting and Sr isotopic characteristics

The northwestern corner of the Caribbean plate has at least sixteen centers of alkalic volcanism, most of which is Quaternary in age. Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios of the rocks in these centers are used to distinguish three geographical groups: a low-ratio group (0.7026-0.7031) at the Nicaraguan Rise, an intermediate-ratio group (0.7036-0.7038) in northeastern Costa Rica, and a high-ratio group (0.7047-0.7063) in Hispaniola. It is suggested that the increased radiogenic strontium in both Costa Rica and Hispaniola may have come from volatile-rich fluids escaping from adjacent subducting slabs of oceanic crust. The isotopic differences between the two areas is explained by the relative longevity and high rate of subduction in Costa Rica compared to that in Hispaniola. The Costa Rican alkaline rocks cover a segment of the Cocos plate which is being subducted at a smaller angle (about 35 deg) than at the rest of the Central American arc.

Wadge, G.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Schiaparelli Basin, Mars - Morphology, Tectonics and infilling history

Schiaparelli Basin (an elliptical basin 460 x 400 km in diameter) is the best preserved large impact structure on Mars. Multiple periods of basin infilling by lava and eolian material can be recognized. Numerous ridges within the basin show a strong northwest-southeast orientation, consistent with a regional stress field induced by the loading of the lithosphere by Tharsis. Ridge location is, however, apparently dominated by a buried peak ring. Earth-based radar measurements of Schiaparelli indicate that the ejecta deposits are best preserved on topographic highs southeast of the basin, while eolian materials have preferentially accumulated in the lower (western) side of the basin. Lyot (215 km diameter) is believed to be a good analogue to the pre-infilled Schiaparelli, and indicates that Schiaparelli probably had an initially hummocky floor topography and both ballistic and ground-flow ejecta deposits.

Mouginis-Mark, P. J.↗