The flight of impact craters based on paleo-positions and its
unrestrained latitudinal distribution
Abstract
Earth’s impact craters were analyzed to know the paleo-positions,
distance and displacement they have undergone due to plate tectonics.
Further, we have verified whether there is any selective distribution
across the latitudinal segments. This was achieved through GPlates, a
tectonic reconstruction model. The results are intriguing with several
craters travelled across the globe. The oldest crater studied was
Beaverhead, which travelled from southern to northern hemisphere
covering ~39,289 km in 900Ma but with shorter
displacement of ~8467km. On the other hand craters like
Jänisjärvi and Suvasvesi South have travelled longer distances (27,781
and 29,050km, respectively) and have the distinction of being the most
displaced craters (17,400 and 16,988km, respectively). Similarly the
paleo-position and the distance as well as displacement for all the
craters were recreated. The latitudinal dependency was also studied.
Being a planet with varying land area during different geological ages,
calculating area is an arduous task. The area of the equal latitudinal
segments, viz. 0-30{degree sign}, 30-60{degree sign} and
60-90{degree sign}, were calculated for the respective number of times
of impact crater events and compared with the total land area. Results
showed that the first two segments have equal crater frequency whereas
the polar segment has lesser frequency and we attribute to plates like
Antarctica that remained in polar region throughout the Earth history
are less explored owing to harsh climatic conditions. These results are
compared to that of the Moon and Mars. This reveals that there is a
non-selective distribution of impact craters across latitudinal
segments.