Scientists Complete First Expansion Tectonics Map of Ganymede

"Groove lane morphology and development consistent with that predicted for passive rifts suggest a major role of global expansion in grooved terrain formation." -- Scott L. Murchie, geologist, et al., November 1986

"The bright terrain formed as Ganymede underwent some extreme resurfacing event, probably as a result of the moon's increase in size." -- Louise M. Prockter, physicist, 2001

"In fact, it is now widely accepted that the Jovian moon, Ganymede, has experienced significant, internally-generated, post-formation expansion. As Prockter (2001) writes: 'The bright terrain formed as Ganymede underwent some extreme resurfacing event, probably as a result of the moon's increase in size'. Collins et al. (1999) agree that the formation of the grooved terrain on Ganymede was likely the result of post-formation 'global expansion'. " -- Dennis J. McCarthy, geoscientist, November 2005

"Since planets and moons did not pop into existence at their current size, everyone agrees they must have expanded at some point in their history." -- Dennis J. McCarthy, geoscientist, November 2005

"Ganymede's grooved terrain likely formed during an epoch of global expansion...." -- Michael T. Bland and Adam P. Showman, planetary scientists, 2007

"Ganymede's surface is dominated by relatively young, extensional tectonic deformation. While it is generally accepted that this deformation formed during global expansion of the satellite, the cause of the expansion remains unclear." -- Michael T. Bland, astrogeologist, et al., 2007

"Why does plate tectonics occur only on Earth? This is one of the major questions in earth and planetary sciences research, and raises a wide range of related questions: has plate tectonics ever occurred...?" Paula Martin, astrophysicist, et al., 2008

Science Daily: Scientists Complete First Geological Global Map Of Jupiter's Satellite Ganymede.

ScienceDaily (Sep. 18, 2009) — Scientists have assembled the first global geological map of the Solar System’s largest moon – and in doing so have gathered new evidence into the formation of the large, icy satellite.