[X] My Assistant

[Guest_Steve39_*]

Hello My name is Steve and I had some questions about this image in relation to the current model of current conditions on Mars.

I am new and I understand that some of the greatest minds reside here. I would like to start a discussion on this visible data if possible.

To summarize my position of the image, voids created by CO2 sublimation from beneath. The compression and associated gas release produced the movement of surface features visible. This seems reasonable.

The layering and current surface ice at the polar cap in spite of seasonal dust deposition, post CO2 sublimation, without another source of H2O seems unreasonable.

I would be grateful for any help to reconcile this

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Image from Hortonheardawho

[Guest_Steve39_*]

Gentlemen,

May I elaborate. This image shows obvious layers in the polar cap. I am trying to reconcile this image with the image from the Phoenix site for greater understanding of the current process on Mars.

I think it would be reasonable to say that this process has been going on for a long-long time. There must be a change in conditions between new ice deposition Now I will propose a few hypotheses out for further discussion.

A. It got warmer and dryer with new dust deposition. The problem with this is if the depth of water ice stability at the Phoenix site is just a few cm’s then the source of water vapor from the poles would be cut off. For these layers to be visible from this altitude with such compression then a depth of at least a few cm’s would be reasonable. This would mean that a new water vapor source would be needed for the next layer.

B. It got colder and dryer. This opens up the door for CO2 to be a primary or secondary constituent in the separation layer. This would explain the eruption sites along the edge of the scarp and potential catalyst for avalanche activity. We know that water under extreme pressure can become ice at temperature well above 0C. I have researched and found no such data for CO2. I would think that it would behave the same.

In such a scenario the sublimation process at the polar region would be cut off and a new water vapor source would be needed.

I propose the following theory based on surface data from the Phoenix site. Rover sites and MRO imagery.

The current Hydro-cycle on Mars is a collaboration of polar sublimation and subsurface eruptions of both liquid and gas emission on both a mega and micro-scale.

The satellite data shows areas of floods and water erosion to numerous to mention. I believe there could be a correlation between extreme warm and cold periods that would need a mega-scale eruption to start the next phase of the hydro-cycle.

The images from the rover sites could be explained by fines being expelled by subsurface gas that could also be the source of planetary water vapor in the northern hemisphere of Mars. If you request I will post some of these images. Fines in a dry environment can display fluvial characteristics and be confused with liquid.

I would like to say Thank you in advance for allowing me to share my thoughts on this controversial subject of the Mars hydro-cycle. At this time I will stand down and allow you guys to discuss freely these theories. I will not take offence and will take each response on it’s merits and ideology. I believe the unmanned probes to be a data source that should allow us to have a greater understanding of the Universe.

Respectfully,
Steve39

[djellison]

The images from the rover sites could be explained by fines being expelled by subsurface gas that could also be the source of planetary water vapor in the northern hemisphere of Mars.

Could you go into more detail here - we have two quite different landing sites with Meridiani and Gusev. Very different materials structured in rather different ways. Conretions, layering, cross bedding, sulphates, vugs and so on. How does what you propose, explain those features.

Doug