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MARSIS radar sounder evidence of buried basins in the northern lowlands of Mars

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas R. Watters

    (Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution)

  • Carl J. Leuschen

    (The University of Kansas)

  • Jeffrey J. Plaut

    (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology)

  • Giovanni Picardi

    (“La Sapienza” University of Rome)

  • Ali Safaeinili

    (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology)

  • Stephen M. Clifford

    (Lunar and Planetary Institute)

  • William M. Farrell

    (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Anton B. Ivanov

    (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology)

  • Roger J. Phillips

    (Washington University)

  • Ellen R. Stofan

    (Proxemy Research)

Abstract

Martian highs and lows Mars is a planet of two halves: the northern hemisphere is dominated by sparsely cratered lowlands, and the south by heavily cratered highlands. Many explanations have been offered for this dichotomy: new data from the MARSIS radar sounder on-board Mars Express should now help to filter out some of these by establishing the age of the northern lowland crust. Radar images reveal signs of ten buried impact basins in an area of the northern lowlands, most of them hidden from view on the surface. Taking these features into account, crater densities in the north and south become broadly comparable. If the northern lowland crust is at least as old as the oldest exposed highland crust, as these results suggest, the differences between the two hemispheres must have originated early on in the geological evolution of Mars.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas R. Watters & Carl J. Leuschen & Jeffrey J. Plaut & Giovanni Picardi & Ali Safaeinili & Stephen M. Clifford & William M. Farrell & Anton B. Ivanov & Roger J. Phillips & Ellen R. Stofan, 2006. "MARSIS radar sounder evidence of buried basins in the northern lowlands of Mars," Nature, Nature, vol. 444(7121), pages 905-908, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:444:y:2006:i:7121:d:10.1038_nature05356
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05356
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