In:
Geophysical Research Letters, American Geophysical Union (AGU), Vol. 28, No. 7 ( 2001-04), p. 1283-1285
Abstract:
We show that the action of a CO 2 suspended flow could have produced the recent small gullies on Mars, and, hence, that liquid water is not required. The model involves the build‐up of a liquid‐CO 2 aquifer behind and below a dry‐ice barrier (dam/cap rock) in the pore spaces a few meters into the rock from the cliff face and on order of a hundred meters below the top of the cliff brink surface. Seasonal (or obliquity‐cycle‐seasonal) heating causes pinching out of the dry‐ice barrier and rapid release of the liquid CO 2 . Erosion of the gullies occurs as the rapid vaporization of the liquid CO 2 with entrainment of rock and clathrate‐hydrate ice produces a density flow analogous to a terrestrial nue ardente.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0094-8276
,
1944-8007
DOI:
10.1029/2000GL012496
Language:
English
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Publication Date:
2001
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2021599-X
detail.hit.zdb_id:
7403-2
SSG:
16,13
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