Definition
A diagnostic characteristic of tessera is its high radar backscatter cross-section, which is noticeably higher than that of the surroundings (e.g., Bindschadler et al. 1990). Tessera represents one of the most tectonically deformed types of terrain on Venus. Both the material and tectonic structures play an important role in the definition of tessera.
Synonyms
Parquet (Barsukov et al. 1986); Complex ridged terrain (Bindschadler et al. 1992) (Obsolete terms)
Plural
Tesserae
Description
The materials that form the bulk of tessera are heavily deformed tectonically, and the surface of the unit is characterized by at least two sets of intersecting structures, but usually several sets are visible (Fig. 1). Tectonic features of both contractional (ridges) and extensional (graben and fractures) origin occur at different scales, from a few 100 m up to several tens of kilometers in width and up to several hundreds of kilometers in length. The surface is rough at all scales compared...
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References
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Ivanov, M. (2014). Tessera. In: Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_366-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_366-1
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