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Hypervelocity impact craters in ammonia rich ice

Grey, Ivan D.S., Burchell, Mark J. (2004) Hypervelocity impact craters in ammonia rich ice. Icarus, 168 (2). pp. 467-474. ISSN 0019-1035. (doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2003.11.006) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:5058)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://WOS:000220474300020

Abstract

Research on the impact cratering process on icy bodies has been largely based on the most abundant ice, water. However little is known about the influence of other relatively abundant ices such as ammonia. Accordingly, data are presented studying the influence on cratering in ammonia rich ice using spherical I turn diameter stainless steel projectiles at velocities of 4.8 +/- 0.5 km s(-1). The ice target composition ranged from pure water ice, to solutions containing 50% ammonia and 50% water by weight. Results for crater depth, diameter, volume and depth/diameter ratio are given. The results showed that the presence of ammonia in the ice had a very strong influence on crater diameter and morphology. It was found that with only a 10% concentration of ammonia, crater diameter significantly decreased, and then at greater concentrations became independent of ammonia content. Crater depth was independent of the presence of ammonia in the ice, and the crater volume appeared to decrease as ammonia concentration increased. Between ammonia concentrations of 10 and 20% crater morphology visibly changed from wide shallow craters with a deeper central pit to craters with a smoothly increasing depth from the crater rim to centre. Thus, a small amount of ammonia within a water ice surface may have a major effect on crater morphology.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.icarus.2003.11.006
Uncontrolled keywords: ammonia ice; cratering; impact processes
Subjects: Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User: Mark Burchell
Date Deposited: 08 Sep 2008 15:33 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:43 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/5058 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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