Whereas conventional maps can be expressed as outward-expanding formulae with well-defined central features and relatively poorly defined edges, Constant Scale Natural Boundary (CSNB) maps have well-defined boundaries that result from natural processes and thus allow spatial and dynamic relationships to be observed in a new way useful to understanding these processes. CSNB mapping presents a new approach to visualization that produces maps markedly different from those produced by conventional cartographic methods.

In this approach, any body can be represented by a 3D coordinate system. For a regular body, with its surface relatively smooth on the scale of its size, locations of features can be represented by definite geographic grid (latitude and longitude) and elevation, or deviation from the triaxial ellipsoid defined surface. A continuous surface on this body can be segmented, its distinctive regional terranes enclosed, and their inter-relationships defined, by using selected morphologically identifiable relief features (e.g., continental divides, plate boundaries, river or current systems). In this way, regions of distinction on a large, essentially spherical body can be mapped as two-dimensional 'facets' with their boundaries representing regional to global-scale asymmetries (e.g., continental crust, continental and oceanic crust on the Earth, farside original thicker crust and nearside thinner impact punctuated crust on the Moon). In an analogous manner, an irregular object such as an asteroid, with a surface that is rough on the scale of its size, would be logically segmented along edges of its impact-generated faces.

Bounded faces are imagined with hinges at occasional points along boundaries, resulting in a foldable 'shape model.' Thus, bounded faces grow organically out of the most compelling natural features. Obvious boundaries control the map's extremities, and peripheral regions are not dismembered or grosslydistorted as in conventional map projections. 2D maps and 3D models grow out of an object's most obvious face or terrane 'edges,' instead of arbitrarily by imposing a regular grid system or using regularly shaped facets to represent an irregular surface.

Book provides new insights into the physical processes on regular and irregular planetary bodies and both explains and demonstrates the technique for getting those insights Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext

Pamela Clark grew up in New England. Inspired by President John Kennedy, she decided as a child to explore outer space. She thought, "If they can put a man on the Moon, they can put a woman (me) on Mars!" She obtained her BA from St. Joseph College. There, she had many opportunities to participate in laboratory research with Sr. Chlorophyll (Dr. Claire Markham) and Sr. Moon Rock (Dr. Mary Ellen Murphy) as well as to coordinate an NSF interdisciplinary undergraduate field research project. While obtaining her PhD in planetary geochemistry from the University of Maryland, she worked at NASA/GSFC outside of Washington, D. C., and the Astrogeology branch of the USGS in Flagstaff, Arizona, simulating, analyzing, correlating, and interpreting lunar X-ray spectra. She was a member of the group, led by Isidore Adler and Jack Trombka, that pioneered the use of orbital X-ray and gamma-ray spectrometers to determine the composition of planetary surfaces. She participated in the Flagstaff Lunar Data Consortium, the first attempt to create a common format database for all the remote sensing data from a planetary body. After completing her PhD, Clark joined the technical staff at NASA/JPL, worked with the Goldstone Solar System Radar group, and expanded her remote sensing background to include radar, thermal, and near infrared studies of planetary surfaces with particular emphasis on the study of Mercury's surface. Clark organized a briefing team to promote a mission to Mercury, and for a while edited the Mercury Messenger newsletter. Clark has published three books with Springer: Dynamic Planet: Mercury in the Context of its Environment, Remote Sensing Tools forExploration (with Michael Rilee) and Constant Scale Natural Boundary Mapping to Reveal Global and Cosmic Processes (with Chuck Clark). She eventually returned to Goddard to work with the XGRS team on the NEAR mission to the asteroid Eros. She then became the science lead in a group initiated by Steve Curtis to develop new paradigms for the design of space missions and vehicles and to evaluate surface science scenarios, tools, technologies, and architectures for space missions to extreme environments, with particular emphasis on the Moon and Mars. Clark is currently an internationally recognized expert on the extension of the cubesat paradigm for high science return and low-cost exploration in deep space. She has done several stints in academia, including Murray State University in Kentucky, Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania, and Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C. She has developed courses in analytical and environmental chemistry, geochemistry, physical geology, mineralogy, optics, planetary astronomy, remote sensing, and physics. Her goals include exploring under every rock to increase our sense of wonder about the Solar System.

Inhalt

Chapter One: Constant-Scale Natural Boundary Mapping in Context.- Chapter Two: CSNB Mapping Technique.- Chapter Three: Interpretation of CSNB Maps.- Chapter Four: Mapping the Earth.- Chapter Five: CSNB Mapping Applied to Other Regular Bodies.- Chapter Six: CSNB Mapping Applied to Irregular Bodies.- Chapter Seven: Mapping the Sky.- Chapter Eight: The Future of CSNB Mapping.