Ancient fluvial processes in the equatorial highlands of Mars

Details Ancient fluvial processes in the equatorial highlands of Mars Ancient fluvial processes in the equatorial highlands of Mars

Jun 1991

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1991pggp.rept..143c&link_type=abstract

In NASA, Washington, Reports of Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program, 1990 p 143-145 (SEE N92-10728 01-91)

Physics

Geophysics

Ejecta, Mars Craters, Mars Surface, Mars Volcanoes, Planetary Evolution, Structural Properties (Geology), Terrain, Topography, Creep Properties, Deposition, Equatorial Regions, Erosion, Frequency Distribution, Highlands, Morphology, Size Distribution, Statistical Distributions

Scientific paper

Martian highland craters typically lack ejecta deposits, have no noticeable rim, and are flat floored. In addition, crater size frequency distribution curves show that highland craters have depleted populations less than 20 km in diameter. A variety of processes have been suggested to explain these observations including deposition of aeolian or volcanic materials up to the crater rim crests, thermal creep, terrain softening, and mass wasting. However, none of these processes adequately explains both the crater morphology and population distribution. In order to explain both the Martian highland crater morphology and population distribution, a fluvial process is proposed which is capable of removing the loose crater rim material. The resulting effect is to decrease the crater diameter, thereby causing the population curves to bend over. The eroded material is redistributed, burying or partially burying smaller diameter craters before complete erosion. This material may also be deposited into local topographic lows, creating the depositional basins observed. A fluvial process explains both sets of observations: crater morphology and crater population distribution curves.

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