Earthlike Mars? |
Earthlike Mars? |
Apr 1 2009, 02:28 AM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 233 Joined: 21-April 05 Member No.: 328 |
All, I know this isn't the right place for this post, but I've looked around and can't find an appropriate, current UMSF forum (Doug, perhaps you could give me some guidance on establishing such) -- so here goes: I think a [the] new paradigm for Martian geology is rapidly coalescing, namely, that Mars is very much like the Earth in terms of the preponderance of water -- except that it is all frozen, and covered under a thin layer of dust/regolith! See, for example, this article:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/41995902.html Hence the "seepages" found in crater walls; hence the evidence of catastophic flooding -- the result of volcanism melting huge pockets of ice. And I am going to add my own wrinkle (probably not original): that the differentiation of Mars into a rougher southern hemisphere and smoother northern hemsphere represents something like Earth's Pangea stage, ie, the northern hemisphere is a vast frozen sea covered with a thin layer of ice. |
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Apr 8 2009, 04:44 AM
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#2
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Member Group: Members Posts: 233 Joined: 21-April 05 Member No.: 328 |
I would like to second Lyford's point, and add my own expression of gratitude to Dr. Parker (Tim) for his post, especially appreciated given the understanding thay guys of his stature can't just rattle on like amateurs such as myself! Speaking of which, there are dozens of things I would like to say, but I will confine myself to one item at the moment. I have downloaded and read the brief article cited by Sky and Telescope, and it makes the point that, although several models confidently predict the presence in the Martian regolith of "pore-filling ice" which is a natural result of the inhalation and exhalation of atmospheric water vapor, "The ice exposed at this site [the one with the apron large enough to fill a CRISM pixel?] is not pore-filling ground ice but rather is relatively pure and is at least several cm thick." Oceanus Borealis ?!?!? Speaking for myself, Dr. Parker, but probably expressing a common sentiment among us UMSF members, please do not feel that you must respond tit-for-tat to our meanderings. We who are not on Mr. Olympus are pleased to think that you might be amused to follow from afar the enjoyment we mortals have in passing around the golden apple you have dropped in our midst!
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Apr 8 2009, 02:03 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Senior Member Posts: 136 Joined: 8-August 06 Member No.: 1022 |
"The ice exposed at this site [the one with the apron large enough to fill a CRISM pixel?] is not pore-filling ground ice but rather is relatively pure and is at least several cm thick." Oceanus Borealis ?!?!? It might be tempting to interpret these findings as "proof" that the vestiges of a frozen ocean lie just beneath the surface at these locations, but as the article points out, there are other reasonable explanations for near-surface ice - even pure ice that don't require former standing water. QUOTE Speaking for myself, Dr. Parker, but probably expressing a common sentiment among us UMSF members, please do not feel that you must respond tit-for-tat to our meanderings. We who are not on Mr. Olympus are pleased to think that you might be amused to follow from afar the enjoyment we mortals have in passing around the golden apple you have dropped in our midst! I'm just a poor, humble country planetary geologist, lost in the Big City! -Tim. |
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