Vigorous convection as the explanation for Pluto’s polygonal terrain

A. J. Trowbridge (), H. J. Melosh, J. K. Steckloff and A. M. Freed
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A. J. Trowbridge: Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University
H. J. Melosh: Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University
J. K. Steckloff: Purdue University
A. M. Freed: Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University

Nature, 2016, vol. 534, issue 7605, 79-81

Abstract: A parameterized convection model and observations of the puzzling polygons of the Sputnik Planum region of Pluto are used to compute the Rayleigh number of its nitrogen ice and show that it is vigorously convecting, kilometres thick and about a million years old.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/nature18016

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