Vallis (planetary geology)

Summary

Vallis or valles /ˈvælɪs/ (plural valles /ˈvælz/)[1] is the Latin word for valley. It is used in planetary geology to name landform features on other planets.

Scientists used vallis for old river valleys they discovered when they sent the first probes to Mars. The Viking Orbiters caused a revolution in our ideas about water on Mars; finding huge river valleys in many areas. Space craft cameras showed that floods of water broke through dams, carved deep valleys, eroded grooves into bedrock, and traveled thousands of kilometers.[2][3][4] Some valles on Mars (Mangala Vallis, Athabasca Vallis, Granicus Vallis, and Tinjar Valles) clearly begin at graben. On the other hand, some of the large outflow channels begin in rubble-filled low areas, called chaos or chaotic terrain. It has been suggested that massive amounts of water were trapped under pressure beneath a thick cryosphere (layer of frozen ground), then the water was suddenly released, perhaps when the cryosphere was broken by a fault.[5][6]

Nirgal Vallis and sapping edit

Nirgal Vallis is one of the longest valley networks on Mars. It is so large that it is found on more than one quadrangle. Scientists are not sure about how all the ancient river valleys were formed. There is evidence that instead of rain or snow, the water that formed the valleys originated underground. One mechanism that has been advanced is sapping.[7] In sapping, the ground just gives away as water comes out. Sapping is common in some desert areas in America's Southwest. Sapping forms alcoves and stubby tributaries. These features are visible in the picture from the Coprates quadrangle of Nigal Vallis taken with Mars Odyssey's THEMIS.

Kasei Valles edit

One of the most significant features of the Lunae Palus region, Kasei Valles is one of the largest outflow channels on Mars. Like other outflow channels, it was carved by liquid water, probably during gigantic floods.

Kasei is about 2,400 kilometers (1,500 mi) long. Some sections of Kasei Valles are 300 kilometers (190 mi) wide. It begins in Echus Chasma, near Valles Marineris, and empties into Chryse Planitia, not far from where Viking 1 landed. Sacra Mensa, a large tableland divides Kasei into northern and southern channels.

Scientists suggest it was formed by several episodes of flooding and maybe by some glacial activity.[8]

Other valles in the Lunae Palus quadrangle edit

Valles in the Syrtis Major quadrangle edit

Valles in the Hellas quadrangle edit

Lineated Floor Deposits edit

The floors of some channels have features called lineated floor deposits. They are ridged and grooved materials that seem to deflect around obstacles. Scientists believe they are ice-rich. Some glaciers on the Earth show such features. Lineated floor deposits may be related to lobate debris aprons, which have been proven to contain large amounts of ice. Reull Vallis, as pictured below, displays these deposits.[9]

Origin of Dao Vallis edit

Dao Vallis begins near a large volcano, called Hadriaca Patera, so it is thought to have received water when hot magma melted huge amounts of ice in the frozen ground. The partially circular depressions on the left side of the channel in the image below suggests that groundwater sapping also contributed water.[10]

Vallis in Elysium quadrangle edit

Vallis in Oxia Palus quadrangle edit

Vallis in Memnonia quadrangle edit

Other examples of valles edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ In Latin, the singular is valles (with a short 'e') or vallis, and the plural is valēs with a long 'e'.
    valles. Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short. A Latin Dictionary on Perseus Project.
  2. ^ Hugh H. Kieffer (1992). Mars. University of Arizona Press. ISBN 978-0-8165-1257-7. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  3. ^ Raeburn, P. 1998. Uncovering the Secrets of the Red Planet Mars. National Geographic Society. Washington D.C.
  4. ^ Moore, P. et al. 1990. The Atlas of the Solar System. Mitchell Beazley Publishers NY, NY.
  5. ^ Carr, M. 1979. Formation of martian flood features by release of water from confined aquifers. J. Geophys. Res. 84: 2995-3007.
  6. ^ Hanna, J. and R. Phillips. 2005. Tectonic pressurization of aquifers in the formation of Mangala and Athabasca Valles on Mars. LPSC XXXVI. Abstract 2261.
  7. ^ "Nirgal Vallis - Mars Odyssey Mission THEMIS". themis.asu.edu.
  8. ^ "The Cataracts of Kasei - Mars Odyssey Mission THEMIS". themis.asu.edu.
  9. ^ "Mars Odyssey Mission THEMIS: Image of the Day". themis.asu.edu. Archived from the original on 2005-12-25.
  10. ^ "Dao Vallis - Mars Odyssey Mission THEMIS". themis.asu.edu.
  11. ^ "Planetary Names: Welcome". planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov.