Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2001
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001agufm.p22b0547y&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2001, abstract #P22B-0547
Physics
1823 Frozen Ground, 1829 Groundwater Hydrology, 1832 Groundwater Transport
Scientific paper
Patterned ground is a common feature in the cold and/or arid regions of Earth, but similar features are also found on Mars. Polygons on the Martian surface have been classified into three different size classes: big (giant polygons, 1-20 km diameter), middle size (100-200 m diameter) and small size (5-20 m diameter). Many of small-scale polygons on the southern layered deposits near the South Pole possibly originated through thermal contraction as predicted by image analysis and statistical analysis, but many of the middle and small size polygons from Utopia Planitia may not be caused by thermal contraction. Polygons from southern layered deposits display characteristic shape factors, such as form factor, roundness, and aspect ratio, which are very similar to terrestrial frost polygons. Nearest-neighbor analyses of polygonal network distributions also yield comparable results with terrestrial polygonal networks. However, one significant difference is the spacing of the cracks, which is on the order of 5 - 10 times bigger than those on Earth. Polygon size provides some hints on the surface materials of the southern layered deposits. The polygonal patterns in Utopia Planitia have frequently been associated with collapsed features such as ancient subsurface channels (the width of the underground channel is estimated to be approximately 400-500 m) or a talik (unfrozen layer in the permafrost). These features also display linear structure, associated with lower surface albedo. The area of lower albedo has a higher density of polygonal patterns. These patterns potentially suggest that 1) the polygonal pattern is caused primarily by ground heaving and collapsing, 2) darker albedo materials had higher tensile strength and 3) liquid water or melt water (from ice rich materials) was running through the talik or near surface channel.
Hinzman L.
Laderach S.
Yoshikawa Kenichi
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