New Constraints on Martian Lava Flow Rheologies From MOLA

Mathematics – Logic

Scientific paper

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5480 Volcanism (8450), 8429 Lava Rheology And Morphology, 8450 Planetary Volcanism (5480)

Scientific paper

The field of physical lava flow modeling (terrestrial and planetary) has long suffered from the paucity of data on flow dimensions. Even Earth lacks high resolution digital topographic information. Data for planetary flows are traditionally even more meager than terrestrial data. We generally have only the planimetric view to work with and crude estimates of slope. Now, with the tremendous volume of Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) data available (and due to be available in the near future), we are presented with the first opportunity to measure the full three-dimensional character of lava flows on the surface of Mars. The 3-D character of a lava flow is comprised of both longitudinal and transverse profiles, and is influenced by estimates of underlying slope. All of these can be measured with very fine precision and accuracy from the raw MOLA profile data. From such data, we can determine how a lava flow thickens and spreads laterally with distance. This is a very exciting prospect because, for the first time, the high quality dimensional data should allow us to distinguish between differing physics models for lava flow emplacement. This information can be used to assess rheologic changes along the path of the flow and to distinguish between changes due to rheology and slope. We have already begun analysis of several Martian lava flows, through comparison of dimensional data with predicted profiles from physics models in the literature. Based on flow morphology, we can choose from models that describe rapid emplacement (Baloga et al., 1995), loss of material to levees (Baloga et al., 1998; Glaze and Baloga, 1998), degassing (Baloga et al., 2001), lateral spreading (Bruno et al., 1996), cumulative topographic effects, and others. Refs: Baloga, SM, PD Spudis, and JE Guest (1995) JGR 100:24,509-24,519. Baloga, SM, LS Glaze, JA Crisp, and SA Stockman (1998) JGR 103:5133-5142. Baloga, SM, LS Glaze, MN Peitersen, and JA Crisp (2001) JGR 106:13,395-13,405. Bruno, BC, SM Baloga and GJ Taylor (1996) JGR 101:11,565-11,577. Glaze, LS and SM Baloga (1998) JGR 103:13,659-13,666.

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