Jump to content

Polygonal patterned ground

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Polygonal terrain)

Polygonal, patterned ground is quite common in some regions of Mars.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] It is commonly believed to be caused by the sublimation of ice from the ground. Sublimation is the direct change of solid ice to a gas. This is similar to what happens to dry ice on the Earth. Places on Mars that display polygonal ground may indicate where future colonists can find water ice. Low center polygons have been proposed as a marker for ground ice.[8] Polygonal terrain is also found on earth's permafrost.

Patterned ground forms in a mantle layer, called latitude dependent mantle, that fell from the sky when the climate was different.[9][10][11][12]

On Mars, researches have found patterned ground that formed from fractures and patterned ground formed by the arrangement of boulders. It is not yet clear what caused boulders to form patterns, but it does not seem that fractures caused the boulders to move around.[13]

Physics

[edit]
A similar process occurs on Nile crocodiles. Their snout skins crack during embryo development, forming polygonal patterns.[14]

Unlike mudcracks, which are dominated by T-junctions, polygonal terrain is dominated by Y-junctions. It is formed by repeatedly annealing the crack pattern, as the same ground is partially melted every summer, then frozen every winter, until thousands of years later, it settles into a thermodynamically favored state, which is dominated by Y-junctions. This is similar to columnar jointing.[14]

Polygons in Mare Australe quadrangle

[edit]

Polygons in Casius quadrangle

[edit]

Polygons in Hellas quadrangle

[edit]

Sizes and formation of polygonal ground

[edit]

Fractured polygonal ground is generally divided into two kinds: high center and low center. The middle of a high center polygon is 10 meters across and its troughs are 2–3 meters wide. Low center polygons are 5–10 meters across and the boundary ridges are 3–4 meters wide.[15][16][17]

High center polygons are higher in the center and lower along their boundaries. It forms from increased sublimation around cracks in a surface. Cracks are common in ice-rich surfaces.[18][19] [20][21][22][5][23]

The cracks provide a place of increased surface area for sublimation. After a time the narrow cracks widen to become troughs.

Low center polygons are thought to develop from the high center polygons. The troughs along the edges of high center polygons may become filled with sediment. This thick sediment will retard sublimation, so more sublimation will take place in the center that is protected by a thinner lag deposit. In time, the middle becomes lower than the outer parts. The sediments from the troughs will turn into ridges.[15]

High-center polygons in Noachis quadrangle

[edit]

High-center polygons in Ismenius Lacus quadrangle

[edit]

Clastic patterned ground

[edit]

Many areas of patterned ground were formed by boulders. For, as yet unknown reasons, boulders are often arranged in various shapes that include polygons. A study around Lomonosov Crater found that they were not caused by fracture networks.[13] Clastic patterned ground has been found across the Northern Plains.[24][25][26][27] Another site was Elysium Planitia.[28] Researchers also found this terrain in the Argyre Basin (Argyre quadrangle).[29][30]

Latitude dependent mantle

[edit]

Much of the Martian surface is covered with a thick ice-rich, mantle layer that has fallen from the sky a number of times in the past. It fell as snow and ice-coated dust. This mantle layer is called "latitude dependent mantle" because its occurrence is related to the latitude. It is this mantle that cracks and then forms polygonal ground.

The mantle layer lasts for a very long time before all the ice is gone because a protective lag deposit forms on the top.[31] The mantle contains ice and dust. After a certain amount of ice disappears from sublimation the dust stays on the top, forming the lag deposit.[32][33][34]

Mantle forms when the Martian climate is different than the present climate. The tilt or obliquity of the axis of the planet changes a great deal.[35][36][37] The Earth’s tilt changes little because our rather large moon stabilizes the Earth. Mars only has two very small moons that do not possess enough gravity to stabilize its tilt. When the tilt of Mars exceeds around 40 degrees (from today's 25 degrees), ice is deposited in certain bands where much mantle exists today.[38][39]

Other surface features

[edit]

Another type of surface is called "brain terrain" as it looks like the surface of a human brain. Brain terrain lies under polygonal ground when the two are both visible in a region.[15]

Since the top, polygon layer is fairly smooth although the underlying brain terrain is irregular; it is believed that the mantle layer that contains the polygons is 10–20 meters thick.[40]

"Basketball terrain" is another expression of the surface of Mars. At certain distances it looks like a basketball’s surface. Close-up pictures have revealed it to consist of piles of rocks.[41][42][43][44] Many ideas have been advanced to explain how these piles of rocks are formed.[45][46]

Many steep surfaces in latitude bands near 40 degrees North and South contain gullies. Some of the gullies show polygons. These have been called "gullygons."[40]

Complex polygonal patterned ground

[edit]

On the Earth

[edit]

On the Earth, polygonal, patterned ground is present in ice-rich ground, especially in polar regions.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ http://www.diss.fu-berlin.de/diss/servlets/MCRFileNodeSe[permanent dead link] rvlet/FUDISS_derivate_000000003198/16_ColdClimateLandforms-13-utopia.pdf?hosts=
  2. ^ Kostama, V.-P.; Kreslavsky, Head (2006). "Recent high-latitude icy mantle in the northern plains of Mars: Characteristics and ages of emplacement". Geophys. Res. Lett. 33 (11): L11201. Bibcode:2006GeoRL..3311201K. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.553.1127. doi:10.1029/2006GL025946. S2CID 17229252.
  3. ^ Malin, M.; Edgett, K. (2001). "Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera: Interplanetary cruise through primary mission". J. Geophys. Res. 106 (E10): 23429–23540. Bibcode:2001JGR...10623429M. doi:10.1029/2000je001455.
  4. ^ Milliken, R.; et al. (2003). "Viscous flow features on the surface of Mars: Observations from high-resolution Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) images". J. Geophys. Res. 108 (E6): E6. Bibcode:2003JGRE..108.5057M. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.506.7847. doi:10.1029/2002JE002005.
  5. ^ a b Mangold, N (2005). "High latitude patterned grounds on Mars: Classification, distribution and climatic control". Icarus. 174 (2): 336–359. Bibcode:2005Icar..174..336M. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2004.07.030.
  6. ^ Kreslavsky, M.; Head, J. (2000). "Kilometer-scale roughness on Mars: Results from MOLA data analysis". J. Geophys. Res. 105 (E11): 26695–26712. Bibcode:2000JGR...10526695K. doi:10.1029/2000je001259.
  7. ^ Seibert, N.; Kargel, J. (2001). "Small-scale martian polygonal terrain: Implications for liquid surface water". Geophys. Res. Lett. 28 (5): 899–902. Bibcode:2001GeoRL..28..899S. doi:10.1029/2000gl012093.
  8. ^ Soare, R., et al. 2018. POSSIBLE ICE-WEDGE POLYGONISATION IN UTOPIA PLANITIA, MARS, AND ITS POLEWARD LATITUDINAL-GRADIENT. 49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2018 (LPI Contrib. No. 2083). 1084.pdf
  9. ^ Hecht, M (2002). "Metastability of water on Mars". Icarus. 156 (2): 373–386. Bibcode:2002Icar..156..373H. doi:10.1006/icar.2001.6794.
  10. ^ Mustard, J.; et al. (2001). "Evidence for recent climate change on Mars from the identification of youthful near-surface ground ice". Nature. 412 (6845): 411–414. Bibcode:2001Natur.412..411M. doi:10.1038/35086515. PMID 11473309. S2CID 4409161.
  11. ^ Kreslavsky, M.A., Head, J.W., 2002. High-latitude Recent Surface Mantle on Mars: New Results from MOLA and MOC. European Geophysical Society XXVII, Nice.
  12. ^ Head, J.W.; Mustard, J.F.; Kreslavsky, M.A.; Milliken, R.E.; Marchant, D.R. (2003). "Recent ice ages on Mars". Nature. 426 (6968): 797–802. Bibcode:2003Natur.426..797H. doi:10.1038/nature02114. PMID 14685228. S2CID 2355534.
  13. ^ a b Barrett, A.; et al. (2017). "Clastic patterned ground in Lomonosov crater, Mars: examining fracture controlled formation mechanisms". Icarus. 295: 125–139. Bibcode:2017Icar..295..125B. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2017.06.008. hdl:1893/26993.
  14. ^ a b Goehring, Lucas; Morris, Stephen W. (2014-11-01). "Cracking mud, freezing dirt, and breaking rocks". Physics Today. 67 (11): 39–44. doi:10.1063/PT.3.2584. ISSN 0031-9228.
  15. ^ a b c Levy, J.; Head, J.; Marchant, D. (2009). "Concentric crater fill in Utopia Planitia: History and interaction between glacial "brain terrain" and periglacial mantle processes". Icarus. 202 (2): 462–476. Bibcode:2009Icar..202..462L. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2009.02.018.
  16. ^ "HiRISE | Hexagons in Icy Terrain (PSP_008883_2245)".
  17. ^ https://static.uahirise.org/images/2018/details/cut/PSP_008883_2245.jpg [bare URL image file]
  18. ^ Mutch, T.A.; et al. (1976). "The surface of Mars: The view from the Viking2 lander". Science. 194 (4271): 1277–1283. Bibcode:1976Sci...194.1277M. doi:10.1126/science.194.4271.1277. PMID 17797083. S2CID 38178368.
  19. ^ Mutch, T.; et al. (1977). "The geology of the Viking Lander 2 site". J. Geophys. Res. 82 (B28): 4452–4467. Bibcode:1977JGR....82.4452M. doi:10.1029/js082i028p04452.
  20. ^ Levy, J.; et al. (2009). "Thermal contraction crack polygons on Mars: Classification, distribution, and climate implications from HiRISE observations". J. Geophys. Res. 114 (E1): E01007. Bibcode:2009JGRE..114.1007L. doi:10.1029/2008JE003273.
  21. ^ Washburn, A. 1973. Periglacial Processes and Environments. St. Martin’s Press, New York, pp. 1–2, 100–147.
  22. ^ Mellon, M (1997). "Small-scale polygonal features on Mars: Seasonal thermal contraction cracks in permafrost". J. Geophys. Res. 102 (E11): 25617–625. Bibcode:1997JGR...10225617M. doi:10.1029/97je02582.
  23. ^ Marchant, D.; Head, J. (2007). "Antarctic dry valleys: Microclimate zonation, variable geomorphic processes, and implications for assessing climate change on Mars". Icarus (Submitted manuscript). 192 (1): 187–222. Bibcode:2007Icar..192..187M. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2007.06.018.
  24. ^ Balme, M.; et al. (2013). "Morphological evidence for geologically young thaw of ice on Mars: a review of recent studies using high-resolution imaging data" (PDF). Prog. Phys. Geogr. (Submitted manuscript). 37 (3): 289–324. doi:10.1177/0309133313477123. S2CID 129919923.
  25. ^ Gallangher, M.; et al. (2011). "Sorted clastic stripes, lobes and associated gullies in high-latitude craters on Mars: landforms indicative of very recent, polycyclic ground-ice thaw and liquid flows". Icarus. 211 (1): 458–471. Bibcode:2011Icar..211..458G. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.09.010.
  26. ^ Johnsson, D.; et al. (2012). "Periglacial mass-wasting landforms on Mars suggestive of transient liquid water in the recent past : insights from solifluction lobes on Svalbard" (PDF). Icarus. 218 (1): 489–505. Bibcode:2012Icar..218..489J. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2011.12.021.
  27. ^ Orloff, M.; et al. (2011). "Boulder movement at high northern latitudes of Mars". J. Geophys. Res. 116 (E11): 1–12. Bibcode:2011JGRE..11611006O. doi:10.1029/2011je003811.
  28. ^ Balme, M.; et al. (2009). "Sorted stone circles in Elysium Planitia, Mars: Implications for recent Martian climate". Icarus. 200 (1): 30–38. Bibcode:2009Icar..200...30B. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2008.11.010.
  29. ^ Banks, M.; et al. (2008). "High resolution imaging science experiment (HiRISE) observations of glacial and periglacial morphologies in the circum-Argyre Planitia highlands. Mars". J. Geophys. Res. 113 (E12): E12015. Bibcode:2008JGRE..11312015B. doi:10.1029/2007je002994.
  30. ^ Soare, R.; et al. (2016). "Sorted (clastic) polygons in the Argyre region, Mars, and possible evidence of pre-and post- glacial periglaciation in the Late Amazonian Epoch". Icarus. 264: 184–197. Bibcode:2016Icar..264..184S. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.09.019.
  31. ^ Marchant, D.; et al. (2002). "Formation of patterned ground and sublimation till over Miocene glacier ice in Beacon valley, southern Victoria land". Geological Society of America Bulletin. 114 (6): 718–730. Bibcode:2002GSAB..114..718M. doi:10.1130/0016-7606(2002)114<0718:fopgas>2.0.co;2.
  32. ^ Schorghofer, N.; Aharonson, O. (2005). "Stability and exchange of subsurface ice on Mars" (PDF). J. Geophys. Res. 110 (E5): E05. Bibcode:2005JGRE..110.5003S. doi:10.1029/2004JE002350.
  33. ^ Schorghofer, N (2007). "Dynamics of ice ages on Mars". Nature. 449 (7159): 192–194. Bibcode:2007Natur.449..192S. doi:10.1038/nature06082. PMID 17851518. S2CID 4415456.
  34. ^ Head, J.; Mustard, J.; Kreslavsky, M.; Milliken, R.; Marchant, D. (2003). "Recent ice ages on Mars". Nature. 426 (6968): 797–802. Bibcode:2003Natur.426..797H. doi:10.1038/nature02114. PMID 14685228. S2CID 2355534.
  35. ^ name; Touma, J.; Wisdom, J. (1993). "The Chaotic Obliquity of Mars". Science. 259 (5099): 1294–1297. Bibcode:1993Sci...259.1294T. doi:10.1126/science.259.5099.1294. PMID 17732249. S2CID 42933021.
  36. ^ Laskar, J.; Correia, A.; Gastineau, M.; Joutel, F.; Levrard, B.; Robutel, P. (2004). "Long term evolution and chaotic diffusion of the insolation quantities of Mars" (PDF). Icarus (Submitted manuscript). 170 (2): 343–364. Bibcode:2004Icar..170..343L. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2004.04.005. S2CID 33657806.
  37. ^ Levy, J.; Head, J.; Marchant, D.; Kowalewski, D. (2008). "Identification of sublimation-type thermal contraction crack polygons at the proposed NASA Phoenix landing site: Implications for substrate properties and climate-driven morphological evolution". Geophys. Res. Lett. 35 (4): L04202. Bibcode:2008GeoRL..35.4202L. doi:10.1029/2007GL032813.
  38. ^ Kreslavsky, M.J.; Head, J. (2002). "Mars: Nature and evolution of young, latitude-dependent water-ice-rich mantle". Geophys. Res. Lett. 29 (15): 14–1–14–4. Bibcode:2002GeoRL..29.1719K. doi:10.1029/2002GL015392.
  39. ^ Kreslavsky, M.; Head, J. (2006). "Modification of impact craters in the northern plains of Mars: Implications for the Amazonian climate history". Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 41 (10): 1633–1646. Bibcode:2006M&PS...41.1633K. doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.2006.tb00441.x.
  40. ^ a b Levy, J.; et al. (2010). "Thermal contraction crack polygons on Mars: A synthesis from HiRISE, Phoenix, and terrestrial analog studies". Icarus. 206 (1): 229–252. Bibcode:2010Icar..206..229L. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2009.09.005.
  41. ^ Malin, M; Edgett, K. (2001). "Mars global surveyor Mars orbiter camera: interplanetary cruise through primary mission". J. Geophys. Res. 106 (E10): 23429. Bibcode:2001JGR...10623429M. doi:10.1029/2000je001455.
  42. ^ Mellon, M.; et al. (2008). "Periglacial landforms at the Phoenix landing site and the Northern Plains of Mars". J. Geophys. Res. 113 (E4): 1–15. Bibcode:2008JGRE..113.0A23M. doi:10.1029/2007je003039.
  43. ^ "HiRISE | Basketball Terrain (ESP_011816_2300)".
  44. ^ "HiRISE | Basketball Terrain (PSP_007254_2320)".
  45. ^ Kreslavsky, M. A. (2002). "Mars: Nature and evolution of young latitude-dependent water-ice-rich mantle". Geophysical Research Letters. 29 (15): 14–1–14–4. Bibcode:2002GeoRL..29.1719K. doi:10.1029/2002GL015392.
  46. ^ Kreslavsky, M. J. Head (2002). "Mars: Nature and evolution of young latitude-dependent water-ice-rich mantle". Geophysical Research Letters. 29 (15): 14–1–14–4. Bibcode:2002GeoRL..29.1719K. doi:10.1029/2002gl015392.