On a ring origin of the equatorial ridge of Iapetus |
On a ring origin of the equatorial ridge of Iapetus |
Guest_AlexBlackwell_* |
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Wing Ip just had an interesting Iapetus-related paper published in GRL.
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![]() Senior Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 3516 Joined: 4-November 05 From: North Wales Member No.: 542 ![]() |
Note the following sentence already quoted by AlexBlackwell from the original paper:
"...The surface landing mechanism [of the ring particles] might be assisted by the formation of a boundary layer between the satellite surface and the inner edge of the ring system. The viscous heating in slowing down the ring particles would lead to the pulverization and even partial liquification of the infalling material." I don't think I'm too much out on a limb here in saying that this boundary layer would be accompanied by a tenuous atmosphere that would presumably surround Japetus, though thickest in the ring plane, and that this atmosphere would reduce the rate of heat loss from the system. If the remaining segments of the equatorial ridge have behaved like the rest of the moon over the aeons since the ridge formed then they cannot be loose sandpiles resting at the 'angle of repose'. Precisely directed liquid precipitation can leave deposits whose sides are more than steep enough - witness the process of stalagmite formation - and the result is a nice hard material. |
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