HR: 1340h
AN: H33C-1399    [Abstracts]
TI: Martian Alluvial Fans: A glimpse into Martian paleoclimate
AU: * Kraal, E R
EM: ekraal@pmc.ucsc.edu
AF: University of California Santa Cruz, Department of Earth Science 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95-64 United States
AU: Bredt, A
EM: turtle13@ucsc.edu
AF: University of California Santa Cruz, Department of Earth Science 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95-64 United States
AU: Asphaug, E I
EM: asphaug@pmc.ucsc.edu
AF: University of California Santa Cruz, Department of Earth Science 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95-64 United States
AU: Moore, J M
EM: jeff.moore@nasa.gov
AF: NASA Ames Research Center, MS 245-3, Moffett Field, CA 94035 United States
AU: Howard, A D
EM: alanh@virginia.edu
AF: University of Virginia, Department of Environmental Science 291 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, VA 22904 United States
AB: Here we present recent results on understanding the formation and distribution of the recently discovered Martian alluvial fans. All Martian alluvial fans identified to date originate from the rims of craters. The alcoves are in the steep rim topography, and the aprons are in the shallow crater bowl basins. Martian fans have the same distinctive `cone-shaped' debris apron and similar topographic profiles as their terrestrial counterparts; some of the fans have fluvial channel networks preserved on their surface. We are completing a survey of the geologic locations of these fans. Here we propose a detailed effort to analyze MOC, MOLA, and THEMIS data sets for measurements of fan areas and volumes, alcove areas and volumes, and (where possible) deposit textures and alcove geology. These data sets will be supplemented by HRSC DTM data when available. The proposed data analysis will point towards formation mechanisms with a focus on understanding the amount of water required for formation as well as the formation timescale, leading to a better understanding of the role of water during Martian climate history.
DE: 1825 Geomorphology: fluvial (1625)
DE: 1862 Sediment transport (4558)
DE: 5415 Erosion and weathering
DE: 6225 Mars
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005