Normal Fault Trace-Length Scaling in a Tectonic Transition Zone in Southern Sedna Planitia, Venus

In this study, fault trace-lengths of normal faults are measured in southern Sedna Planitia, Venus between 27° to 32° latitude and 336° to 343° longitude where smooth, lowland plains transition into highland regions which are broken by basin and range style tectonics. The fault trace-lengths are plotted on a cumulative number verses length plot (CNL) and fit with a power function, exponential function, and logarithmic function to determine which function best describes the trace-length distribution.A power function is the best fit with a scaling exponent of 1.73. This result is compared to previous studies of fault trace-lengths on Venus, Mars, and Earth where fault trace-lengths have been fit by power functions on CNL plots. The scaling exponent found in this study is closest to the scaling exponent found in the Gulf of Corinth, Greece. Fault density is the same across the study area. The normal faults in the study area show a small amount of strain and interaction within the fault system as part of a growth regime. This helps to separate it from previous studies on Venus and explain the tectonic transition across the study area.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher

Wright State University

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Lyda, Andrew W.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Barton, Christopher

• Geophysics
• Planetology
• Geology
• Nonlinear Geophysics
• Planetary Geophysics
• Venus
• Fault Trace Length Scaling

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1365612940

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:wright1365612940