Authors

N. G. Barlow;C. B. Perez

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Geophys. Res.-Planets

Keywords

Martian craters; Martian volatiles; crater ejecta; Mars; ORBITER-LASER-ALTIMETER; RAMPART CRATERS; NORTHERN PLAINS; SURFACE; RUNOFF; NEAR-SURFACE; MARS; WATER; EMPLACEMENT; ICE; DEPOSITS; Geochemistry & Geophysics

Abstract

[1] Fresh Martian impact craters display a variety of ejecta blanket morphologies. The fluidized appearance of most fresh ejecta types is commonly ascribed to heating and vaporization of subsurface volatiles during crater formation. We have conducted a study of the distribution of the three dominant fluidized ejecta morphologies ( single layer ejecta (SLE), double layer ejecta (DLE), and multiple layer ejecta (MLE)) within the +/- 60degrees latitude zone on Mars. We have subdivided this region into 5degrees x 5degrees latitude-longitude boxes and have computed the following for each box: (1) percentage of craters showing any ejecta morphology as a function of total number of craters, (2) percentage of SLE craters as a function of craters with an ejecta morphology, (3) percentage of DLE craters as a function of craters with an ejecta morphology, and (4) percentage of MLE craters as a function of craters with an ejecta morphology. We confirm previous reports that the SLE morphology is the most common ejecta type within the study area, constituting > 70% of all ejecta morphologies over most of the study area. The DLE and MLE morphologies are much less common, but these morphologies are concentrated in localized regions of the planet. Using these results, we discuss how subsurface volatile reservoirs may be distributed across the planet. The regional variations found in this study generally correlate with the proposed locations of near-surface H2O reservoirs detected by Mars Odyssey.

Journal Title

Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets

Volume

108

Issue/Number

E8

Publication Date

1-1-2003

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

10

WOS Identifier

WOS:000184826600001

ISSN

0148-0227

Download

Share

COinS