Lecture 4

Question 1

What is regolith, and how is it generally defined?

Answer 1

Regolith is the loose, unconsolidated material that covers bedrock on Earth or other celestial bodies.
- It can originate from in-situ processes like rock weathering or plant growth, or from transported material (wind, water, or ice).
- It includes materials with highly variable compositions, from granular layers on planetary surfaces to cemented layers.
- On airless bodies, it often consists of fine dust, sand, or fragments created by space weathering, impact cratering, or volcanic processes.