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Rille

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

  • 216 Accesses

Synonyms

Graben; Groove; Lava tube; Rima

Definition

Rilles (derived from the German term in geomorphology for grooves) are elongated and narrow depressions on the lunar surface with a high length-to-width ratio resembling channel-like features. Rilles are of endogenic origin: the so-called arcuate and sinuous rilles are both associated with volcanism and lava and are due to contraction cooling and subsidence or collapsed lava tubes, respectively. The so-called straight rilles are considered to be of tectonic origin and caused by the extension of the crust.

Though similar features exist on other terrestrial planets, the term “rille” is generally reserved for lunar surface features.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Planetary Sciences and Remote Sensing, Institute of Geological Sciences, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Stephan van Gasselt

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  1. Stephan van Gasselt
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Correspondence to Stephan van Gasselt .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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van Gasselt, S. (2014). Rille. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1377-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1377-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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