Martian hydrogeology sustained by thermally insulating gas and salt hydrates

Jeffrey S. Kargel; Roberto Furfaro; Olga Prieto-Ballesteros; J. Alexis P. Rodriguez; David R. Montgomery; Alan R. Gillespie; Giles M. Marion; Stephen E. Wood

doi:10.1130/G23783A.1

Martian hydrogeology sustained by thermally insulating gas and salt hydrates

Jeffrey S. Kargel, Roberto Furfaro, Olga Prieto-Ballesteros, J. Alexis P. Rodriguez, David R. Montgomery, Alan R. Gillespie, Giles M. Marion, Stephen E. Wood

Systems and Industrial Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

Numerical simulations and geologic studies suggest that high thermal anomalies beneath, within, and above thermally insulating layers of buried hydrated salts and gas hydrates could have triggered and sustained hydrologic processes on Mars, producing or modifying chaotic terrains, debris flows, gullies, and ice-creep features. These simulations and geologic examples suggest that thick hydrate deposits may sustain such geothermal anomalies, shallow groundwater tables, and hydrogeologic activity for eons. The proposed mechanism may operate and be self-reinforcing even in today's cold Martian climate without elevated heat flux.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	975-978
Number of pages	4
Journal	Geology
Volume	35
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1130/G23783A.1
State	Published - Nov 2007

Keywords

Aram Chaos
Clathrate hydrates
Heat flow
Hydrous sulfates
Mars

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geology

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10.1130/G23783A.1

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abstract = "Numerical simulations and geologic studies suggest that high thermal anomalies beneath, within, and above thermally insulating layers of buried hydrated salts and gas hydrates could have triggered and sustained hydrologic processes on Mars, producing or modifying chaotic terrains, debris flows, gullies, and ice-creep features. These simulations and geologic examples suggest that thick hydrate deposits may sustain such geothermal anomalies, shallow groundwater tables, and hydrogeologic activity for eons. The proposed mechanism may operate and be self-reinforcing even in today's cold Martian climate without elevated heat flux.",

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AU - Kargel, Jeffrey S.

AU - Furfaro, Roberto

AU - Prieto-Ballesteros, Olga

AU - Rodriguez, J. Alexis P.

AU - Montgomery, David R.

AU - Gillespie, Alan R.

AU - Marion, Giles M.

AU - Wood, Stephen E.

PY - 2007/11

Y1 - 2007/11

N2 - Numerical simulations and geologic studies suggest that high thermal anomalies beneath, within, and above thermally insulating layers of buried hydrated salts and gas hydrates could have triggered and sustained hydrologic processes on Mars, producing or modifying chaotic terrains, debris flows, gullies, and ice-creep features. These simulations and geologic examples suggest that thick hydrate deposits may sustain such geothermal anomalies, shallow groundwater tables, and hydrogeologic activity for eons. The proposed mechanism may operate and be self-reinforcing even in today's cold Martian climate without elevated heat flux.

AB - Numerical simulations and geologic studies suggest that high thermal anomalies beneath, within, and above thermally insulating layers of buried hydrated salts and gas hydrates could have triggered and sustained hydrologic processes on Mars, producing or modifying chaotic terrains, debris flows, gullies, and ice-creep features. These simulations and geologic examples suggest that thick hydrate deposits may sustain such geothermal anomalies, shallow groundwater tables, and hydrogeologic activity for eons. The proposed mechanism may operate and be self-reinforcing even in today's cold Martian climate without elevated heat flux.

KW - Aram Chaos

KW - Clathrate hydrates

KW - Heat flow

KW - Hydrous sulfates

KW - Mars

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Martian hydrogeology sustained by thermally insulating gas and salt hydrates

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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