Dynamics of an ice continent on Titan
نویسندگان
چکیده
[1] If the large, high-albedo surface feature on Titan’s leading hemisphere is an elevated ‘‘continent’’ composed mainly of water ice, it will deform under its own weight. We present a model for the axisymmetric spreading of this hypothesized continent based on the similarity solution of Halfar [1983] and the approach of Nye [2000]. We find that the thickness of the model continent is dictated by the spreading time, whereas topographic relief is controlled primarily by isostatic effects. For a mantle density of 1000 kg m , the relief of an isostatically supported continent on Titan is not likely to exceed 3– 7 km.
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