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Lava flows are fractalsResults are presented of a preliminary investigation of the fractal nature of the plan-view shapes of lava flows in Hawaii (based on field measurements and aerial photographs), as well as in Idaho and the Galapagos Islands (using aerial photographs only). The shapes of the lava flow margins are found to be fractals: lava flow shape is scale-invariant. This observation suggests that nonlinear forces are operating in them because nonlinear systems frequently produce fractals. A'a and pahoehoe flows can be distinguished by their fractal dimensions (D). The majority of the a'a flows measured have D between 1.05 and 1.09, whereas the pahoehoe flows generally have higher D (1.14-1.23). The analysis is extended to other planetary bodies by measuring flows from orbital images of Venus, Mars, and the moon. All are fractal and have D consistent with the range of terrestrial a'a and have D consistent with the range of terrestrial a'a and pahoehoe values.
Document ID
19920042471
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Bruno, B. C.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Taylor, G. J.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Rowland, S. K.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Lucey, P. G.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Self, S.
(University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
February 7, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 19
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
92A25095
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG9-454
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1162
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1421
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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