Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Nov 2001
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001dps....33.3614g&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS Meeting #33, #36.14; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 33, p.1105
Mathematics
Logic
Scientific paper
The current hypothesis of young Martian volcanism is based on several lines of evidence including analyses of Martian meteorites, photogeologic examination of the planet's surface and detailed crater count studies of high resolution images from MGS/MOC. In addition, some possible signs of recent liquid water on Mars may be evidence of active volcanism as a heat source. Early crater count studies were questioned on the basis of two major uncertainties: very small sampling of counts on young flows, and poor absolute surface age estimates on Mars. Our attack on these uncertainties includes both improving the detailed crater count statistics on the large Martian shield volcanoes and their surrounding lava plains, and refining the absolute ages of counted units using new estimates of the crater production rate on Mars. We have obtained counts on Olympus Mons, Pavonis Mons and Arsia Mons. We have targeted areas both on the slopes and inter-volcanic plains, and have begun examining the caldera regions. Our initial examination of the counts of caldera floors indicates terrains with statistically significant age differences, suggesting for some volcanoes sustained episodes of caldera collapse or resurfacing. Our slope and inter-volcanic plains data when plotted with the latest calibrated isochrons yield some very young ages, 10 My or younger for some small flows. The estimated uncertainty in the age data is about a factor of two. Our preliminary conclusions therefore appear to support the hypothesis of very recent volcanism on Mars. However, it is clear that a critical issue regarding crater counting on high resolution MOC images is the necessity of avoiding the ubiquitous dust on the Martian surface. TES data have shown that dust mantles exist over much of the Tharsis region, and it is critical that the ages of the terrains counted do not appear artificially young due to dust cover of some of the craters. We have begun a systematic review of counted MOC images and prospective units for future counting to constrain the nature of the dust cover and support the validity of these young ages.
Berman Daniel C.
Bottke William F.
Grier Jennifer Ann
Hartmann William K.
Kesthelyi L. P.
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