Researchers from the University of Maryland have recently conducted a study on the global distribution of lunar lobate scarps, some of the youngest landforms on the moon. The research, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, aims to shed light on the tectonic activity that has occurred on the moon over the past millions of years.
Dr. Jaclyn Clark, who led the study, emphasized the significance of their findings in determining the timing of tectonic activities on the moon. By utilizing crater size-frequency distribution measurements, the researchers were able to estimate the ages of the scarps and found that seismic activity associated with scarp movement is limited to shallower depths on the lunar surface.
Interestingly, the study revealed a random distribution of scarps ages globally, with no clear correlation between age and scarp length. Most of the thrust fault activity linked to scarp formation was dated back to the last 400 million years, with the most recent activity occurring 24 million years ago.
Furthermore, a declining trend in the size of craters affected by scarp movements was observed in the last 250 million years, indicating a decrease in moonquake activity over time. This insight provides valuable information on how crater chronologies are reset on the moon’s surface and enhances our understanding of lunar processes.
Dr. Clark stressed the importance of further research in exploring crater size range and its degradation in different materials or processes. The study opens up new avenues for investigating the geological history of the moon and offers a glimpse into the tectonic activities that have shaped its surface over millions of years.
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