火星的河流集群在盖尔火山口
R M E Williams1, J P Grotzinger, W E Dietrich
1Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA. williams@psi.edu
概括
古老的火星有流动的河流,能够移动卵石,表明一个更温暖,更潮湿的过去. 来自盖尔火山口的这些发现表明,与今天的寒冷干燥条件相比,气候有显著的差异.
科学领域:
- 行星科学 行星科学
- 地质地质地质地质地质地
- 天体生物学 天体生物学
背景情况:
- 火星上的盖尔火山口表现出地质特征.
- 火星科学实验室 (MSL) 任务调查火星地质.
研究的目的:
- 为了分析在盖尔火山口发现的沉积堆.
- 确定它们形成所需的环境条件.
主要方法:
- 杆摄像机 (Mastcam) 拍摄卵石的成像.
- 使用ChemCam排放光谱进行化学分析.
主要成果:
- 观察到水泥卵石 (2-40毫米) 和带有河流集团质感的沙粒.
- 圆形的卵石暗示了水的显著磨损.
- 化学摄像头数据显示,地地质成分具有最小的水性变化.
- 有证据表明,水流的深度为0.03-0.9米,速度为0.20-0.75米/秒.
结论:
- 盖尔火山口的古代水流足以运输卵石.
- 火星过去的气候比现在的超干旱环境要温暖和潮湿得多.
- 这些条件支持了长达数英里的广泛的河流过程.
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