Accumulation and erosion of mars' south polar layered deposits

Roberto Seu, Roger J. Phillips, Giovanni Alberti, Daniela Biccari, Francesco Bonaventura, Marco Bortone, Diego Calabrese, Bruce A. Campbell, Marco Cartacci, Lynn M. Carter, Claudio Catallo, Anna Croce, Renato Croci, Marco Cutigni, Antonio Di Placido, Salvatore Dinardo, Costanzo Federico, Enrico Flamini, Franco Fois, Alessandro FrigeriOreste Fuga, Emanuele Giacomoni, Yonggyu Gim, Mauro Guelfi, John W. Holt, Wlodek Kofman, Carlton J. Leuschen, Lucia Marinangeli, Paolo Marras, Arturo Masdea, Stefania Mattei, Riccardo Mecozzi, Sarah M. Milkovich, Antonio Morlupi, Jérémie Mouginot, Roberto Orosei, Claudio Papa, Tobia Paternò, Paolo Persi Del Marmo, Elena Pettinelli, Giulia Pica, Giovanni Picardi, Jeffrey J. Plaut, Marco Provenziani, Nathaniel E. Putzig, Federica Russo, Ali Safaeinili, Giuseppe Salzillo, Maria Rosaria Santovito, Suzanne E. Smrekar, Barbara Tattarletti, Danilo Vicari

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

88 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mars' polar regions are covered with ice-rich layered deposits that potentially contain a record of climate variations. The sounding radar SHARAD on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mapped detailed subsurface stratigraphy in the Promethei Lingula region of the south polar plateau, Planum Australe. Radar reflections interpreted as layers are correlated across adjacent orbits and are continuous for up to 150 kilometers along spacecraft orbital tracks. The reflectors are often separated into discrete reflector sequences, and strong echoes are seen as deep as 1 kilometer. In some cases, the sequences are dipping with respect to each other, suggesting an interdepositional period of erosion. In Australe Sulci, layers are exhumed, indicating recent erosion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1715-1718
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume317
Issue number5845
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 21 2007
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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