Spiders: water-driven erosive structures in the southern hemisphere of Mars

Astrobiology. 2006 Aug;6(4):651-67. doi: 10.1089/ast.2006.6.651.

Abstract

Recent data from space missions reveal that there are ongoing climatic changes and erosive processes that continuously modify surface features of Mars. We have investigated the seasonal dynamics of a number of morphological features located at Inca City, a representative area at high southern latitude that has undergone seasonal processes. By integrating visual information from the Mars Orbiter Camera on board the Mars Global Surveyor and climatic cycles from a Mars' General Circulation Model, and considering the recently reported evidence for the presence of water-ice and aqueous precipitates on Mars, we propose that a number of the erosive features identified in Inca City, among them spiders, result from the seasonal melting of aqueous salty solutions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Climate
  • Exobiology
  • Extraterrestrial Environment* / chemistry
  • Geological Phenomena
  • Geology
  • Ice
  • Mars*
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Seasons
  • Temperature
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Ice
  • Water