Evidence of volcanic and glacial activity in Chryse and Acidalia Planitiae, Mars
Icarus
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Abstract
Chryse and Acidalia Planitiae show numerous examples of enigmatic landforms previously interpreted to have been influenced by a water/ice-rich geologic history. These landforms include giant polygons bounded by kilometer-scale arcuate troughs, bright pitted mounds, and mesa-like features. To investigate the significance of the last we have analyzed in detail the region between 60°N, 290°E and 10°N, 360°E utilizing HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) images as well as regional-scale data for context. The mesas may be analogous to terrestrial tuyas (emergent sub-ice volcanoes), although definitive proof has not been identified. We also report on a blocky unit and associated landforms (drumlins, eskers, inverted valleys, kettle holes) consistent with ice-emplaced volcanic or volcano-sedimentary flows. The spatial association between tuya-like mesas, ice-emplaced flows, and further possible evidence of volcanism (deflated flow fronts, volcanic vents, columnar jointing, rootless cones), and an extensive fluid-rich substratum (giant polygons, bright mounds, rampart craters), allows for the possibility of glaciovolcanic activity in the region.Landforms indicative of glacial activity on Chryse/Acidalia suggest a paleoclimatic environment remarkably different from today's. Climate changes on Mars (driven by orbital/obliquity changes) or giant outflow channel activity could have resulted in ice-sheet-related landforms far from the current polar caps.
Suggested Citation
Martinez-Alonso, S., Mellon, M.T., Banks, M.E., Keszthelyi, L., McEwen, A.S., 2011, Evidence of volcanic and glacial activity in Chryse and Acidalia Planitiae, Mars: Icarus, v. 212, no. 2, p. 597-621, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2011.01.004.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Evidence of volcanic and glacial activity in Chryse and Acidalia Planitiae, Mars |
| Series title | Icarus |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.icarus.2011.01.004 |
| Volume | 212 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Year Published | 2011 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Contributing office(s) | Astrogeology Science Center |
| Description | 25 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Icarus |
| First page | 597 |
| Last page | 621 |
| Other Geospatial | Mars |