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Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms pp 1–9Cite as

Impact Melt Flow

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Definition

An impact melt flow is a solidified accumulation of impact-generated melt that, while molten, coalesces and flows downslope, creating a landform with lobate distal margins.

Synonyms

Lava-like flow

Description

Impact melt flows are characterized by their lobate margins and, often, a centralized, leveed channel (Fig. 1; Howard and Wilshire 1975; Hawke and Head 1977; Bray et al. 2010; Denevi et al. 2012). Melt flows exhibit an array of morphologies, ranging from broad and veneer-like to narrow and fingerlike (Bray et al. 2010; Denevi et al. 2012; Neish et al. 2014). Flows interact with fragmental impact debris, and while generally free of fragmental materials, unmelted blocks are not uncommon (Fig. 2). In addition to impact melt flows associated with the ejecta blanket, small localized flows form on interior crater walls. Flows of melt inside a crater are often associated with erosive channels (Fig. 3; Bray et al. 2010).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Impact melt flow NE of Gibbs crater, Moon,...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Julie D. Stopar

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  1. Julie D. Stopar
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Correspondence to Julie D. Stopar .

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© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Stopar, J.D. (2014). Impact Melt Flow. In: Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_503-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_503-1

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-9213-9

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