Geologically recent gully–polygon relationships on Mars: Insights from the Antarctic Dry Valleys on the roles of permafrost, microclimates, and water sources for surface flow
We describe the morphology and spatial relationships between composite-wedge polygons and Mars-like gullies (consisting of alcoves, channels, and fans) in the hyper-arid Antarctic Dry Valleys (ADV), as a basis for understanding possible origins for martian gullies that also occur in association with...
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ftcaltechauth:oai:authors.library.caltech.edu:72408 2023-05-15T13:55:46+02:00 Geologically recent gully–polygon relationships on Mars: Insights from the Antarctic Dry Valleys on the roles of permafrost, microclimates, and water sources for surface flow Levy, J. S. Head, J. W. Marchant, D. R. Dickson, J. L. Morgan, G. A. 2009-05 application/vnd.ms-excel https://authors.library.caltech.edu/72408/ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/72408/2/mmc1.xls https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20161129-131344946 en eng Elsevier https://authors.library.caltech.edu/72408/2/mmc1.xls Levy, J. S. and Head, J. W. and Marchant, D. R. and Dickson, J. L. and Morgan, G. A. (2009) Geologically recent gully–polygon relationships on Mars: Insights from the Antarctic Dry Valleys on the roles of permafrost, microclimates, and water sources for surface flow. Icarus, 201 (1). pp. 113-126. ISSN 0019-1035. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2008.12.043. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20161129-131344946 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20161129-131344946> other Article PeerReviewed 2009 ftcaltechauth https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2008.12.043 2021-11-18T18:39:56Z We describe the morphology and spatial relationships between composite-wedge polygons and Mars-like gullies (consisting of alcoves, channels, and fans) in the hyper-arid Antarctic Dry Valleys (ADV), as a basis for understanding possible origins for martian gullies that also occur in association with polygonally patterned ground. Gullies in the ADV arise in part from the melting of atmospherically-derived, wind-blown snow trapped in polygon troughs. Snowmelt that yields surface flow can occur during peak southern hemisphere summer daytime insolation conditions. Ice-cemented permafrost provides an impermeable substrate over which meltwater flows, but does not significantly contribute to meltwater generation. Relationships between contraction crack polygons and sedimentary fans at the distal ends of gullies show deposition of fan material in polygon troughs, and dissection of fans by expanding polygon troughs. These observations suggest the continuous presence of meters-thick ice-cemented permafrost beneath ADV gullies. We document strong morphological similarities between gullies and polygons on Mars and those observed in the ADV Inland Mixed microclimate zone. On the basis of this morphological comparison, we propose an analogous, top–down melting model for the initiation and evolution of martian gullies that occur on polygonally-patterned, mantled surfaces. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Ice permafrost wedge* Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) Antarctic The Antarctic Icarus 201 1 113 126 |
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Open Polar |
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Caltech Authors (California Institute of Technology) |
op_collection_id |
ftcaltechauth |
language |
English |
description |
We describe the morphology and spatial relationships between composite-wedge polygons and Mars-like gullies (consisting of alcoves, channels, and fans) in the hyper-arid Antarctic Dry Valleys (ADV), as a basis for understanding possible origins for martian gullies that also occur in association with polygonally patterned ground. Gullies in the ADV arise in part from the melting of atmospherically-derived, wind-blown snow trapped in polygon troughs. Snowmelt that yields surface flow can occur during peak southern hemisphere summer daytime insolation conditions. Ice-cemented permafrost provides an impermeable substrate over which meltwater flows, but does not significantly contribute to meltwater generation. Relationships between contraction crack polygons and sedimentary fans at the distal ends of gullies show deposition of fan material in polygon troughs, and dissection of fans by expanding polygon troughs. These observations suggest the continuous presence of meters-thick ice-cemented permafrost beneath ADV gullies. We document strong morphological similarities between gullies and polygons on Mars and those observed in the ADV Inland Mixed microclimate zone. On the basis of this morphological comparison, we propose an analogous, top–down melting model for the initiation and evolution of martian gullies that occur on polygonally-patterned, mantled surfaces. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Levy, J. S. Head, J. W. Marchant, D. R. Dickson, J. L. Morgan, G. A. |
spellingShingle |
Levy, J. S. Head, J. W. Marchant, D. R. Dickson, J. L. Morgan, G. A. Geologically recent gully–polygon relationships on Mars: Insights from the Antarctic Dry Valleys on the roles of permafrost, microclimates, and water sources for surface flow |
author_facet |
Levy, J. S. Head, J. W. Marchant, D. R. Dickson, J. L. Morgan, G. A. |
author_sort |
Levy, J. S. |
title |
Geologically recent gully–polygon relationships on Mars: Insights from the Antarctic Dry Valleys on the roles of permafrost, microclimates, and water sources for surface flow |
title_short |
Geologically recent gully–polygon relationships on Mars: Insights from the Antarctic Dry Valleys on the roles of permafrost, microclimates, and water sources for surface flow |
title_full |
Geologically recent gully–polygon relationships on Mars: Insights from the Antarctic Dry Valleys on the roles of permafrost, microclimates, and water sources for surface flow |
title_fullStr |
Geologically recent gully–polygon relationships on Mars: Insights from the Antarctic Dry Valleys on the roles of permafrost, microclimates, and water sources for surface flow |
title_full_unstemmed |
Geologically recent gully–polygon relationships on Mars: Insights from the Antarctic Dry Valleys on the roles of permafrost, microclimates, and water sources for surface flow |
title_sort |
geologically recent gully–polygon relationships on mars: insights from the antarctic dry valleys on the roles of permafrost, microclimates, and water sources for surface flow |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://authors.library.caltech.edu/72408/ https://authors.library.caltech.edu/72408/2/mmc1.xls https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20161129-131344946 |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Ice permafrost wedge* |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Ice permafrost wedge* |
op_relation |
https://authors.library.caltech.edu/72408/2/mmc1.xls Levy, J. S. and Head, J. W. and Marchant, D. R. and Dickson, J. L. and Morgan, G. A. (2009) Geologically recent gully–polygon relationships on Mars: Insights from the Antarctic Dry Valleys on the roles of permafrost, microclimates, and water sources for surface flow. Icarus, 201 (1). pp. 113-126. ISSN 0019-1035. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2008.12.043. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20161129-131344946 <https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20161129-131344946> |
op_rights |
other |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2008.12.043 |
container_title |
Icarus |
container_volume |
201 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
113 |
op_container_end_page |
126 |
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1766262600871444480 |