Morphology and Depth of Mars Northern Hemisphere Gullies

Details Morphology and Depth of Mars Northern Hemisphere Gullies Morphology and Depth of Mars Northern Hemisphere Gullies

Dec 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003agufm.p11b1040g&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2003, abstract #P11B-1040

Mathematics

Logic

5415 Erosion And Weathering, 5470 Surface Materials And Properties, 6207 Comparative Planetology, 6225 Mars

Scientific paper

Gullies, defined by having an alcove, channel and basin morphology have been interpreted to be evidence of melting ice in the recent era. Building on previous work (Gilmore and Phillips, Geology, Dec 2002) on southern hemisphere gullies, we have examined morphology and depth of gullies in the northern hemisphere of Mars. Forty-six gullies in 31 images have been identified in the northern hemisphere, compiled from a survey of the literature and some reconnaissance. Most of the gullies occur between 30N and 60; 8 of these landforms have been identified between 0 and 30N and are located at the summits of the Tharsis volcanoes. The gullies tend to form in regional clusters and are found within Amazonian and Hesperian aged geologic units, specifically materials of the Vastitas Borealis formation in both Utopia and Acidalia Planitae and flows from Elysium Mons. As with the southern hemisphere gullies, we find all northern hemisphere gullies to emanate from a particular layer that appears to be competent (often a cliff-former). We measured the depth of the gully heads below the local surface by registering MOC images and MOLA profiles in ISIS (MOC2MOLA script) supplied by the USGS. On average, northern hemisphere gullies lie 257m (range 86m to 555 m) below the local surface (error is approx. 20 m), consistent with previous measurements of southern hemisphere gullies (ibid). Omitting gullies on volcanoes, absolute depths range from approx. -5000 to -2100 m with respect to the MOLA datum; gullies on volcanoes span approx. 4700m - 20000m. The relationship of gullies with competent layers is consistent with a casual relationship, perhaps as an aquiclude. Models for gully formation must address the fact that the gullies are a near-surface phenomenon.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Morphology and Depth of Mars Northern Hemisphere Gullies 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 Morphology and Depth of Mars Northern Hemisphere Gullies, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Morphology and Depth of Mars Northern Hemisphere Gullies will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1424820