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Extensive Noachian fluvial systems in Arabia Terra: Implications for early Martian climate

Davis, JM; Balme, M; Grindrod, PM; Williams, RME; Gupta, S; (2016) Extensive Noachian fluvial systems in Arabia Terra: Implications for early Martian climate. GEOLOGY , 44 (10) pp. 847-850. 10.1130/G38247.1. Green open access

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Abstract

Valley networks are some of the strongest lines of evidence for extensive fluvial activity on early (Noachian; >3.7 Ga) Mars. However, their purported absence on certain ancient terrains, such as Arabia Terra, is at variance with patterns of precipitation as predicted by "warm and wet" climate models. This disagreement has contributed to the development of an alternative "icy highlands" scenario, whereby valley networks were formed by the melting of highland ice sheets. Here, we show through regional mapping that Arabia Terra shows evidence for extensive networks of sinuous ridges. We interpret these ridge features as inverted fluvial channels that formed in the Noachian, before being subject to burial and exhumation. The inverted channels developed on extensive aggrading flood plains. As the inverted channels are both sourced in, and traverse across, Arabia Terra, their formation is inconsistent with discrete, localized sources of water, such as meltwater from highland ice sheets. Our results are instead more consistent with an early Mars that supported widespread precipitation and runoff.

Type: Article
Title: Extensive Noachian fluvial systems in Arabia Terra: Implications for early Martian climate
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1130/G38247.1
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G38247.1
Language: English
Additional information: Gold Open Access: This paper is published under the terms of the CC-BY license.
Keywords: Science & Technology, Physical Sciences, Geology, MARS, CHANNELS, DEPOSITS, SURFACE, CRATER
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Earth Sciences
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1524409
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