IPB

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

 
Reply to this topicStart new topic
New Medusae Fossae formation hypothesis, Even bigger culprit volcano
Antdoghalo
post Dec 23 2021, 05:29 AM
Post #1


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 223
Joined: 13-October 09
From: Olympus Mons
Member No.: 4972



https://www.lpi.usra.edu/planetary_news/202...n-an-early-sea/
Interesting concept in this being giant deposits of pumice. The currents of a possible ancient Mars ocean would favor any floating debris to be carried to the southwest of the volcano.
If true, apparently Olympus Mons has its guts all over the planet, thought a relatively small feat to Tooting crater supposedly throwing them all over neighboring planets.


--------------------
"Thats no moon... IT'S A TRAP!"
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
ngunn
post Dec 23 2021, 05:56 PM
Post #2


Senior Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3516
Joined: 4-November 05
From: North Wales
Member No.: 542



There's a lot to like in this idea, but I wonder how the dates of the successive processes work out. Is Olympus Mons old enough (or the ocean recent enough)? I expect this is covered in the full paper. Perhaps someone with access can sketch the proposed chronology for us.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Phil Stooke
post Dec 23 2021, 10:36 PM
Post #3


Solar System Cartographer
****

Group: Members
Posts: 10127
Joined: 5-April 05
From: Canada
Member No.: 227



There is also a hypothesis that the MFF consists of vast piles of volcanic ash from all the Tharsis volcanoes and/or Apollinaris Mons, once forming a continuous belt around half or even more of the equator, now eroded into separate mounds. Mt. Sharp could be an outlier of the same material.

Phil


--------------------
... because the Solar System ain't gonna map itself.

Also to be found posting similar content on https://mastodon.social/@PhilStooke
NOTE: everything created by me which I post on UMSF is considered to be in the public domain (NOT CC, public domain)
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Antdoghalo
post Dec 24 2021, 05:16 AM
Post #4


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 223
Joined: 13-October 09
From: Olympus Mons
Member No.: 4972



The main theory for years has been ash deposits from Apollinaris and Arsia/Pavonis. Like this new one, it has its support with climatological winds while raising further questions. I wish we could send a rover to the Mangala/Medusae area to check it out. It is geologically youthful either because it is recent or because it has been eroded overtime, erasing the craters.


--------------------
"Thats no moon... IT'S A TRAP!"
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
serpens
post Dec 30 2021, 12:32 AM
Post #5


Senior Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 1043
Joined: 17-February 09
Member No.: 4605



Just out of interest, this image of a 200 square kilometre pumice raft was taken in the South Pacific in March 2020, arising from a small underwater fissure. If the Northern Ocean existed when the Tharsis bulge began to form the hypothesis on the Medusae Fossae Formation has some merit.
Attached thumbnail(s)
Attached Image
 
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Antdoghalo
post Dec 30 2021, 01:18 AM
Post #6


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 223
Joined: 13-October 09
From: Olympus Mons
Member No.: 4972



QUOTE (serpens @ Dec 29 2021, 07:32 PM) *
Just out of interest, this image of a 200 square kilometre pumice raft was taken in the South Pacific in March 2020, arising from a small underwater fissure. If the Northern Ocean existed when the Tharsis bulge began to form the hypothesis on the Medusae Fossae Formation has some merit.

Looking at a topographic map of Mars, the Medusae Fossae looks like it is "truncated" near uniformly at around a kilometer below mean datum level from higher elevations to the south almost like a large "pumice iceberg" of material piled up against shoreline. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Locatio..._fig2_327167111


--------------------
"Thats no moon... IT'S A TRAP!"
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post

Reply to this topicStart new topic

 



RSS Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 29th March 2024 - 12:18 AM
RULES AND GUIDELINES
Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting.

IMAGE COPYRIGHT
Images posted on UnmannedSpaceflight.com may be copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission. Read here for further information on space images and copyright.

OPINIONS AND MODERATION
Opinions expressed on UnmannedSpaceflight.com are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UnmannedSpaceflight.com or The Planetary Society. The all-volunteer UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderation team is wholly independent of The Planetary Society. The Planetary Society has no influence over decisions made by the UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderators.
SUPPORT THE FORUM
Unmannedspaceflight.com is funded by the Planetary Society. Please consider supporting our work and many other projects by donating to the Society or becoming a member.