Keys to gully formation processes on Mars: Relation to climate cycles and sources of meltwater

Advances in dating gullies on Mars using superposition relationships and a stratigraphic marker horizon link gully chronostratigraphy to recent climate cycles. New observations of gully morphology show the close association of gully source regions, channels, and fan deposits with well-documented ice...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Icarus (New York, N.Y. 1962) N.Y. 1962), 2011-05, Vol.213 (1), p.428-432
Main Authors: Schon, Samuel C., Head, James W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy
Cratering
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Geological processes
Mars, Climate
Mars, Surface
Solar system
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Summary:Advances in dating gullies on Mars using superposition relationships and a stratigraphic marker horizon link gully chronostratigraphy to recent climate cycles. New observations of gully morphology show the close association of gully source regions, channels, and fan deposits with well-documented ice-rich latitude-dependent mantle deposits, the deposition of which is interpreted to be coincident with recent ice ages. On the basis of these close correlations, we interpret the formative processes for mid-latitude gullies to involve melting of these ice-rich mantling deposits and the generation of an aqueous phase leading to fluvial activity. Continued monitoring of gullies by spacecraft in the current “interglacial” climate period (∼0.4 Ma to the present) will permit assessment of changing rates and styles of gully activity in the now largely depleted source areas.
ISSN:0019-1035
1090-2643
DOI:10.1016/j.icarus.2011.02.020