GEOMORPHOLOGICAL MAPPING USING CHANDRAYAAN-1 AND LRO DATA

Abstract

With the release of Chandrayaan-1 and LRO data it is now possible to study precisely the morphology of small craters (D<lkm) and to observe the diversity of degradation features along with the surface age determination. In my dissertation work I have used the CSFD technique to determine the surface age of the Taurus-Littrow valley on Lunar Mare region, and measured the slopes of small craters in the valley to explore the evolution of crater degradation with time on the moon. Surface age determination is quintessential for understanding and to reconstruct the geo-chronology of any planetary body. The chronology and stratigraphic reconstruction of terrestrial rocks is accomplished by way of radiometric dating, index fossils, lithostratigraphic correlation, etc. However, in the case of remote planetary bodies, with little accessibility to their rock samples, the crater size frequency distribution (CSFD) is a well developed method for determining surface ages using remote sensing techniques. In this study, the TMC and LRO datasets have been utilized for lunar surface age dating using CSFD and comparing with the radiometrically derived ages of the samples returned by Apollo 17 mission, followed by extension of the same technique for central cluster correlating the cratering events in the Taurus-Littrow valley with the Tycho event. Further to explain degradation process of the craters in the valley the slope of the craters is calculated and plotted to see the behavior of crater degradation in the valley. The software used for mapping is ERDAS 10 and to calculate the surface age of the geologic unit craterstats tool is used. Keywords: Chandrayaan-1, LRO, CSFD, TMC, Tycho, craterstats, Lunar Mare, Taurus-Littrow valley iii