Journal article
Recent geological and hydrological activity on Mars: The Tharsis/Elysium corridor
Planetary and space science, Vol.56(7), pp.985-1013
2008
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/110681
Abstract
The paradigm of an ancient warm, wet, and dynamically active Mars, which transitioned into a cold, dry, and internally dead planet, has persisted up until recently despite published Viking-based geologic maps that indicate geologic and hydrologic activity extending into the Late Amazonian epoch. This paradigm is shifting to a water-enriched planet, which may still exhibit internal activity, based on a collection of geologic, hydrologic, topographic, chemical, and elemental evidences obtained by the Viking, Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), Mars Odyssey (MO), Mars Exploration Rovers (MER), and Mars Express (MEx) missions. The evidence includes: (1) stratigraphically young rock materials such as pristine lava flows with few, if any, superposed impact craters; (2) tectonic features that cut stratigraphically young materials; (3) features with possible aqueous origin such as structurally controlled channels that dissect stratigraphically young materials and anastomosing-patterned slope streaks on hillslopes; (4) spatially varying elemental abundances for such elements as hydrogen (H) and chlorine (Cl) recorded in rock materials up to 0.33
m depth; and (5) regions of elevated atmospheric methane. This evidence is pronounced in parts of Tharsis, Elysium, and the region that straddles the two volcanic provinces, collectively referred to here as the Tharsis/Elysium corridor. Based in part on field investigations of Solfatara Crater, Italy, recommended as a suitable terrestrial analog, the Tharsis/Elysium corridor should be considered a prime target for Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) investigations and future science-driven exploration to investigate whether Mars is internally and hydrologically active at the present time, and whether the persistence of this activity has resulted in biologic activity.
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Details
- Title
- Recent geological and hydrological activity on Mars: The Tharsis/Elysium corridor
- Creators
- James M Dohm - Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721,USARobert C Anderson - Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Techonolgy, Pasadena, CA 91109, USANadine G Barlow - Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USAHirdy Miyamoto - Department of Geosystem Engineering, University of Tokyo, JapanAshley G Davies - Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Techonolgy, Pasadena, CA 91109, USAG Jeffrey Taylor - Hawai’i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai’i, Honolulu, Hawai’i 96822, USAVictor R Baker - Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721,USAWilliam V Boynton - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAJohn Keller - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAKris Kerry - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USADaniel Janes - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAAlberto G Fairén - Centro de Biología Molecular, CSIC-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Cantoblanco, Madrid, SpainDirk Schulze-Makuch - School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USAMihaela Glamoclija - IRSPS, Università d’Annunzio, Pescara, ItalyLucia Marinangeli - IRSPS, Università d’Annunzio, Pescara, ItalyGian G Ori - IRSPS, Università d’Annunzio, Pescara, ItalyRobert G Strom - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAJean-Pierre Williams - Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USAJustin C Ferris - West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Palmer, AK 99645, USAJ.A.P Rodríguez - Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, JapanMiguel A de Pablo - Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Alcalá, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, SpainSuniti Karunatillake - Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Publication Details
- Planetary and space science, Vol.56(7), pp.985-1013
- Academic Unit
- UNKNOWN
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Identifiers
- 99900547244001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article