Ice flow and isostasy of the north polar cap of Mars

Details Ice flow and isostasy of the north polar cap of Mars Ice flow and isostasy of the north polar cap of Mars

Mar 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003p%26ss...51..193g&link_type=abstract

Planetary and Space Science, Volume 51, Issue 3, p. 193-204.

Mathematics

Logic

9

Scientific paper

The flow of the north polar cap of Mars, which is assumed to consist mainly of H2O ice, is investigated with the three-dimensional ice-sheet model SICOPOLIS. We consider a simplified topography and a climatic forcing varying between the present state and warmer, more humid conditions in the past with an obliquity cycle of 1.3 million earth years (yr). Furthermore, SICOPOLIS is coupled with the three-layer viscoelastic ground model displace to simulate the isostatic response of the underlying lithosphere/mantle system. Likely ice-flow velocities at present are a few mm/yr, along with surface accumulation/ablation rates of the order of 0.1 mm water equiv./yr and basal temperatures more than /50°C below pressure melting. Thicknesses of the rheological lithosphere of 50-400km are consistent with geothermal heat fluxes of 15-36mWm-2, with some evidence for values of ca. 80-120km and 20-30mWm-2, respectively. For an Earth-like upper-mantle viscosity of O(1021Pas), relaxation times of the lithosphere/mantle system are much shorter than significant load changes, so that the mantle behaves as an inviscid fluid. The poor correlation between the computed and measured free-air gravity signal indicates that it is determined by mass anomalies of a different origin.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Ice flow and isostasy of the north polar cap of Mars does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Ice flow and isostasy of the north polar cap of Mars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Ice flow and isostasy of the north polar cap of Mars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1167753