lobate scarp

landform

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Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

Lobate scarps are significant landforms on Mercury, characterized by their curved or scalloped edges. These cliffs, which can extend over a thousand kilometers and rise up to 3 km, are formed by faulting where one section of the surface thrusts over adjacent terrain.1

The presence of numerous lobate scarps across Mercury suggests that the planet's crust has undergone global contraction. Scientists estimate that Mercury's diameter may have shrunk by as much as 7 km due to cooling of its interior and core. This shrinkage has continued relatively recently in Mercury's geologic history, with some scarps altering younger impact craters, indicating that the planet may still be shrinking today.1

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Mercury
Scarps
…have been its hundreds of lobate scarps. These cliffs vary from tens to over a thousand kilometres in length and from about 100 metres (330 feet) to 3 km (2 miles) in altitude. Viewed from above, they have curved or scalloped edges, hence the term lobate. It is clear that…
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…have been its hundreds of lobate scarps. These cliffs vary from tens to over a thousand kilometres in length and from about 100 metres (330 feet) to 3 km (2 miles) in altitude. Viewed from above, they have curved or scalloped edges, hence the term lobate. It is clear that…
Read More