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Martian stepped-delta formation by rapid water release

Author

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  • Erin R. Kraal

    (Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Postbus 80115, 3508 TC, Utrecht, The Netherlands
    Present address: Department of Geosciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 4044 Derring Hall (0420), Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA.)

  • Maurits van Dijk

    (Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Postbus 80115, 3508 TC, Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • George Postma

    (Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Postbus 80115, 3508 TC, Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Maarten G. Kleinhans

    (Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Postbus 80115, 3508 TC, Utrecht, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Water flow on mers Understanding how surface water flow could have produced the observed deltas and alluvial fans on the surface of Mars is fundamental to understanding the history of water on the planet. Flow duration in particular is an important factor, but to date, estimates for the longevity of martian hydrologic events have varied erratically, from decades to millions of years. Now, in a series of experiments here on Earth, in the Eurotank facility at Utrecht University, the characteristic morphology of martian stepped or terraced deltas has been recreated. The findings suggest that the stepped fans were formed by sudden release of water from subsurface storage, rather than by surface precipitation. In the conditions prevailing on Mars, this morphology is consistent with a single basin-filling event taking tens of years, and may have required an amount of water comparable to that discharged by a large terrestrial river about the size of the Mississippi. The cover image is a photo composite of a 4 mm-per-pixel digital terrain model of an experimentally formed crater from the Eurotank.

Suggested Citation

  • Erin R. Kraal & Maurits van Dijk & George Postma & Maarten G. Kleinhans, 2008. "Martian stepped-delta formation by rapid water release," Nature, Nature, vol. 451(7181), pages 973-976, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:451:y:2008:i:7181:d:10.1038_nature06615
    DOI: 10.1038/nature06615
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