Triton: Topography and Geology of a Probable Ocean World with Comparison to Pluto and Charon
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Geometric Registration and Control Network
2.2. Deriving Topography of Triton
2.3. Limb Profiles and Match Point Radii
2.4. Stereogrammetry
2.5. Match Point Radii Solutions
2.6. Photoclinometry
2.7. Smeared Images
2.8. Stereo-Controlled Photoclinometry (SG-PC)
2.9. Using the Topographic Data
3. Results: Topographic Characteristics of Geologic Units and Structures
- SG_DEM corresponding to VTERM CA mosaic (Figure 3) at vertical precisions of ~300–1000 m.
- PC_DEM covering most of the terminator region of the Voyager 2 encounter (sub-Neptune) hemisphere (Figure 6) at 1.2–0.6 km/pxl, covering ~8% of the surface, used for smaller geologic features.
- Stereo-controlled version of the PC_DEM corresponding to the VTERM CA mosaic coverage area (Figure 8).
- Sparse match point radius estimates extended over ~40% of the surfaces, mainly over southern terrains (Figure 8).
3.1. Cantaloupe Terrain
3.2. Ridges
3.3. Walled Planitia
3.4. Resurfaced (Volcanic) Plains of Cipango Planum
3.5. Paterae
3.6. Etched Plains and Landform Degradation
3.7. Southern Hemisphere Terrains
4. Triton-Pluto-Charon Contrasts
5. Global Topographic Characteristics of Triton
6. Discussion and Conclusions
- The amplitude of geologic features (knobs, scarps, pits, ridges, etc.) is, with very few exceptions, <1 km;
- diapiric and volcanic terrains exhibit relief of <1 km;
- southern hemisphere terrains (both macular and lineated terrains) exhibit relief of <1 km, and possibly less;
- bright lobate terrains in the southern hemisphere south of ~45° S latitude appear to embay other terrains and may be topographically controlled volatile ices, but no reliable topography exists;
- bright lobate terrains may correlate with detached atmospheric hazes;
- no large-scale areas of mountainous terrain or deep basins of >1 km amplitude occur within the illuminated Voyager 2 encounter hemisphere;
- cantaloupe cells (or cavi) exhibit 300–500 m of negative relief and may be shallower where embayed by smooth volcanic materials to the north.
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A. Errors and Uncertainties in Topography
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Schenk, P.M.; Beddingfield, C.B.; Bertrand, T.; Bierson, C.; Beyer, R.; Bray, V.J.; Cruikshank, D.; Grundy, W.M.; Hansen, C.; Hofgartner, J.; et al. Triton: Topography and Geology of a Probable Ocean World with Comparison to Pluto and Charon. Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 3476. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13173476
Schenk PM, Beddingfield CB, Bertrand T, Bierson C, Beyer R, Bray VJ, Cruikshank D, Grundy WM, Hansen C, Hofgartner J, et al. Triton: Topography and Geology of a Probable Ocean World with Comparison to Pluto and Charon. Remote Sensing. 2021; 13(17):3476. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13173476
Chicago/Turabian StyleSchenk, Paul M., Chloe B. Beddingfield, Tanguy Bertrand, Carver Bierson, Ross Beyer, Veronica J. Bray, Dale Cruikshank, William M. Grundy, Candice Hansen, Jason Hofgartner, and et al. 2021. "Triton: Topography and Geology of a Probable Ocean World with Comparison to Pluto and Charon" Remote Sensing 13, no. 17: 3476. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13173476