Definition
A surface channel formed by predominantly thermal effects, i.e., thermal ablation.
Description
Meandering channels in places with horizontal floor. The cross sections of thermal erosion channels are often characterized by undercutting of the channel wall (Jarvis 1995).
Formation
Thermal erosion channels are formed by laminar fluid whose temperature exceeds the melting temperature of the substrate. In practice thermal erosion channels are formed by hot lava. “As the hot fluid comes into contact with the substrate, the substrate is melted and assimilated into the flowing fluid, resulting in incision into the substrate” (Hurwitz et al. 2012). Thermal erosion is enhanced by higher temperature of the flowing lava (Kerr 2001, 2009) and lower melting point, higher volatile content, and lower thermal conductivity of the eroded substrate. Prolonged period of flow and higher level of turbulence also enhance the thermal erosion of the substrate (Hulme 1982; Huppert and Sparks 1985)....
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References
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Kereszturi, Á., Hargitai, H. (2014). Thermal Erosion Channel. In: Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_369-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_369-1
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