ISS002 Earth Sciences Results Briefing, 14 February, 2002

ISS002 Earth Sciences Results Briefing
February 14, 2002

TERRESTRIAL IMPACT CRATERS

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Why should anyone care about terrestrial impact craters? The most fundamental process throughout the Solar System is impact cratering. Impacts have affected the evolution of planetary atmospheres, life on Earth and possibly other planets, and still pose a regional and global societal threat. The study of terrestrial impact craters also provides a tool for morphologic characterization to reconstruct crater size, recognize and characterize the major structural elements of an impact crater; and for planning and guiding detailed field work for crater studies. The Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory now has the capability to co-display Shuttle and Space Station images with SRTM digital elevation data. This unique, merged dataset has the potential to further define surface morphology of impact craters.

ISS002-407-17 Terrestrial Impact Craters: The original crater diameter was 100 km. What is visible today is the result of the impoundment of two arched lakes, Manicouagan and Mouchalagan, and topography created by a large impact event approximately 212 million years ago. The island at center is Ile Rene-Levasseur and is a resistant melt sheet resulting from the impact.

ISS002-714-7 Terrestrial Impact Craters: Roter Kamm in Namibia is a relatively recent crater, a mere 3.7 million years old and 2.5 km in diameter.

ISS002-716-54 Terrestrial Impact Craters: Aorounga impact crater is located at the southeastern corner of the Tibesti Massif in Chad. Aorounga is 12.6 km in diameter and is < 345 million years old. This crater is also a testament that impact craters can be found amongst volcanic craters.

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NASA Responsible Official: Tracy Calhoun

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Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

International Space Station National Laboratory

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ISS002-407-17	Terrestrial Impact Craters: The original crater diameter was 100 km. What is visible today is the result of the impoundment of two arched lakes, Manicouagan and Mouchalagan, and topography created by a large impact event approximately 212 million years ago. The island at center is Ile Rene-Levasseur and is a resistant melt sheet resulting from the impact.
ISS002-714-7	Terrestrial Impact Craters: Roter Kamm in Namibia is a relatively recent crater, a mere 3.7 million years old and 2.5 km in diameter.
ISS002-716-54	Terrestrial Impact Craters: Aorounga impact crater is located at the southeastern corner of the Tibesti Massif in Chad. Aorounga is 12.6 km in diameter and is < 345 million years old. This crater is also a testament that impact craters can be found amongst volcanic craters.

This service is provided by the International Space Station program and the JSC Astromaterials Research & Exploration Science Directorate. Recommended Citation: Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA-Johnson Space Center. "The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth." .
	NASA Responsible Official: Tracy Calhoun Curator: jsc-earthweb@mail.nasa.gov Contributors: Earth Sciences Web Team	National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center	International Space Station National Laboratory Last Update:
Server: 1