Other
Scientific paper
Dec 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008agufm.p41a1348h&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2008, abstract #P41A-1348
Other
5415 Erosion And Weathering, 5419 Hydrology And Fluvial Processes, 5420 Impact Phenomena, Cratering (6022, 8136)
Scientific paper
This study quantifies the morphology, flow characteristics, and dimensions of gullies that formed on central peaks of impact craters on Mars in an effort to examine possible formation mechanisms. Using HiRise stereo image pairs, MOLA data, and CRISM data, we have focused on two impact craters in the Northern Lowlands: Lyot crater, and a younger central peak crater approximately 300km to the Northeast. Both have well- defined gully systems originating from near the top of their respective central peaks. The smaller crater is roughly 18km in diameter with a fresh central peak crater morphology, and is located at 52.4N and 39.8E. There are at least two well-defined gully systems apparent on this crater's central peak: one extending ~2100m to the north, and the other ~1300m long and trending to the West. Lyot is an Amazonian aged, multi-ring impact basin that is 215km in diameter, located at 50.4N and 29.3E. Lyot also has at least two well-defined gully systems on the central peak: one trending north with a length of ~4200m and another trending westwards for ~2300m. All of these gully systems show features consistent with fluid flow, including erosion of bedrock, channels with slopes much less than 30 degrees, meandering channel beds, point bars, and anastomosing channels on the debris aprons. The gullies on Lyot have a sinuosity varying from 1.064 to 1.092, with slopes decreasing from 29.7 to 12.7 degrees from the gully alcoves to the main channels and varying between 6.3 and 12.1 degrees for the debris aprons. Flow velocities based on the sinuosity of the channels, using terrestrial analogues, are calculated to be between 3.5 m/s and 5.3 m/s [1]. The discharge rates are also calculated using the channel dimensions with gravity scaled to Mars, resulting in rates between 1.1 m/s and 2.8 m/s [2]. A range of total flow volumes will also be estimated using debris apron and gully volumes. These gullies are particularly unique because they originate from the small isolated areas of the central peaks. Using our measurements and observations we will address multiple working hypothesis for possible formation mechanisms of these fluvial systems [3][4]. [1] Ikeda, S. et al. (1981) J. Fluid Mech, 112, 363-77 [2] Kleinhans, M.G. (2005) JGR 110, E12003 [3] Parsons, R.A. et al. This meeting [4] Gulick, V.C. (2001) Geomorphology 37, 241-268
Barnhart Charles J.
Gulick Virginia Claire
Hart S. D.
Parsons Aaron R.
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