Earthlike Mars? |
Earthlike Mars? |
Apr 1 2009, 02:28 AM
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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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May 2 2009, 07:11 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 233 Joined: 21-April 05 Member No.: 328 |
The work of UMSF members has, on several occasions, risen above the amateur level to represent a real contribution to space science. I refer, in particular, to the graphic work which has appeared in national publications.
May I suggest that the question of the existence of an Oceanus Borealis represents a similar opportunity for UMSF members, and that this opportunity has both a primary and a secondary aspect? Primary, in that question of an Oceanus Borealis does not depend so much on esoteric data such as, say, methane concentrations, but is to a great extent a question of visual interpretation. What are we seeing when we look at photos of these smooth northern basins? UMSF, with its four thousand plus pairs of educated eyes, can certainly make a contribution. (Indeed, some of the Mars imaging teams have issued a general invitation to interested amateurs to help scan their photos.) Secondary, in that we can serve as an informed sounding board. Dr. Parker, for example, seemed to enjoy the opportunity of reviewing with us various northern basin scenarios. And, ultimately, a hypothesis which can be explained clearly and convincingly to an educated public is better than one which cannot. Indeed, what we have with a possible Oceanus Borealis is one of those eureka! moments in science, or, more properly, the emergence of a new paradigm as depicted by Thomas Kuhn in his "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions". (Another example can be found at http://www.worldenergysource.com/articles/...uty_WE_v3n2.cfm -- a lovely instance of the primacy of an idea over the wealth and fame that may flow from it.) To this end, I hope this thread will remain current, and posts added to it as additional findings become available, and as additional insights are gained. In fact, I have a possible such insight of my own: Dr. Parker has cited the cobbled surfaces of the northern basin(s) as militating against the frozen ocean hypothesis; but surely someone in the professional ranks has had the idea that many of these cobbles, as on the Antarctic ice sheets, are accumulated meteorites? (And thanks for the thoughts on relevance of Phoenix data.) |
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