Mars north polar deposits: stratigraphy, age, and geodynamical response

Roger J. Phillips; Maria T. Zuber; Suzanne E. Smrekar; Michael T. Mellon; James W. Head; Kenneth L. Tanaka; Nathaniel E. Putzig; Sarah M. Milkovich; Bruce A. Campbell; Jeffrey J. Plaut; Ali Safaeinili; Roberto Seu; Daniela Biccari; Lynn M. Carter; Giovanni Picardi; Roberto Orosei; P. Surdas Mohit; Essam Heggy; Richard W. Zurek; Anthony F. Egan; Emanuele Giacomoni; Federica Russo; Marco Cutigni; Elena Pettinelli; John W. Holt; Carl J. Leuschen; Lucia Marinangeli

doi:10.1126/science.1157546

Mars north polar deposits: stratigraphy, age, and geodynamical response

Roger J. Phillips, Maria T. Zuber, Suzanne E. Smrekar, Michael T. Mellon, James W. Head, Kenneth L. Tanaka, Nathaniel E. Putzig, Sarah M. Milkovich, Bruce A. Campbell, Jeffrey J. Plaut, Ali Safaeinili, Roberto Seu, Daniela Biccari, Lynn M. Carter, Giovanni Picardi, Roberto Orosei, P. Surdas Mohit, Essam Heggy, Richard W. Zurek, Anthony F. EganEmanuele Giacomoni, Federica Russo, Marco Cutigni, Elena Pettinelli, John W. Holt, Carl J. Leuschen, Lucia Marinangeli

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

199 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Shallow Radar (SHARAD) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has imaged the internal stratigraphy of the north polar layered deposits of Mars. Radar reflections within the deposits reveal a laterally continuous deposition of layers, which typically consist of four packets of finely spaced reflectors separated by homogeneous interpacket regions of nearly pure ice. The packet/interpacket structure can be explained by approximately million-year periodicities in Mars' obliquity or orbital eccentricity. The observed ∼100-meter maximum deflection of the underlying substrate in response to the ice load implies that the present-day thickness of an equilibrium elastic lithosphere is greater than 300 kilometers. Alternatively, the response to the load may be in a transient state controlled by mantle viscosity. Both scenarios probably require that Mars has a subchondritic abundance of heat-producing elements.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1182-1185
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	320
Issue number	5880
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1157546
State	Published - May 30 2008
Externally published	Yes

Fingerprint

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General

Cite this

Phillips, R. J., Zuber, M. T., Smrekar, S. E., Mellon, M. T., Head, J. W., Tanaka, K. L., Putzig, N. E., Milkovich, S. M., Campbell, B. A., Plaut, J. J., Safaeinili, A., Seu, R., Biccari, D., Carter, L. M., Picardi, G., Orosei, R., Surdas Mohit, P., Heggy, E., Zurek, R. W., ... Marinangeli, L. (2008). Mars north polar deposits: stratigraphy, age, and geodynamical response. Science, 320(5880), 1182-1185. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1157546

Mars north polar deposits : stratigraphy, age, and geodynamical response. / Phillips, Roger J.; Zuber, Maria T.; Smrekar, Suzanne E.; Mellon, Michael T.; Head, James W.; Tanaka, Kenneth L.; Putzig, Nathaniel E.; Milkovich, Sarah M.; Campbell, Bruce A.; Plaut, Jeffrey J.; Safaeinili, Ali; Seu, Roberto; Biccari, Daniela; Carter, Lynn M.; Picardi, Giovanni; Orosei, Roberto; Surdas Mohit, P.; Heggy, Essam; Zurek, Richard W.; Egan, Anthony F.; Giacomoni, Emanuele; Russo, Federica; Cutigni, Marco; Pettinelli, Elena; Holt, John W.; Leuschen, Carl J.; Marinangeli, Lucia.

In: Science, Vol. 320, No. 5880, 30.05.2008, p. 1182-1185.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Phillips, RJ, Zuber, MT, Smrekar, SE, Mellon, MT, Head, JW, Tanaka, KL, Putzig, NE, Milkovich, SM, Campbell, BA, Plaut, JJ, Safaeinili, A, Seu, R, Biccari, D, Carter, LM, Picardi, G, Orosei, R, Surdas Mohit, P, Heggy, E, Zurek, RW, Egan, AF, Giacomoni, E, Russo, F, Cutigni, M, Pettinelli, E, Holt, JW, Leuschen, CJ & Marinangeli, L 2008, 'Mars north polar deposits: stratigraphy, age, and geodynamical response', Science, vol. 320, no. 5880, pp. 1182-1185. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1157546

Phillips, Roger J. ; Zuber, Maria T. ; Smrekar, Suzanne E. ; Mellon, Michael T. ; Head, James W. ; Tanaka, Kenneth L. ; Putzig, Nathaniel E. ; Milkovich, Sarah M. ; Campbell, Bruce A. ; Plaut, Jeffrey J. ; Safaeinili, Ali ; Seu, Roberto ; Biccari, Daniela ; Carter, Lynn M. ; Picardi, Giovanni ; Orosei, Roberto ; Surdas Mohit, P. ; Heggy, Essam ; Zurek, Richard W. ; Egan, Anthony F. ; Giacomoni, Emanuele ; Russo, Federica ; Cutigni, Marco ; Pettinelli, Elena ; Holt, John W. ; Leuschen, Carl J. ; Marinangeli, Lucia. / Mars north polar deposits : stratigraphy, age, and geodynamical response. In: Science. 2008 ; Vol. 320, No. 5880. pp. 1182-1185.

@article{244ae39f750d4e67982d50f34c1f7202,

title = "Mars north polar deposits: stratigraphy, age, and geodynamical response",

abstract = "The Shallow Radar (SHARAD) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has imaged the internal stratigraphy of the north polar layered deposits of Mars. Radar reflections within the deposits reveal a laterally continuous deposition of layers, which typically consist of four packets of finely spaced reflectors separated by homogeneous interpacket regions of nearly pure ice. The packet/interpacket structure can be explained by approximately million-year periodicities in Mars' obliquity or orbital eccentricity. The observed ∼100-meter maximum deflection of the underlying substrate in response to the ice load implies that the present-day thickness of an equilibrium elastic lithosphere is greater than 300 kilometers. Alternatively, the response to the load may be in a transient state controlled by mantle viscosity. Both scenarios probably require that Mars has a subchondritic abundance of heat-producing elements.",

author = "Phillips, {Roger J.} and Zuber, {Maria T.} and Smrekar, {Suzanne E.} and Mellon, {Michael T.} and Head, {James W.} and Tanaka, {Kenneth L.} and Putzig, {Nathaniel E.} and Milkovich, {Sarah M.} and Campbell, {Bruce A.} and Plaut, {Jeffrey J.} and Ali Safaeinili and Roberto Seu and Daniela Biccari and Carter, {Lynn M.} and Giovanni Picardi and Roberto Orosei and {Surdas Mohit}, P. and Essam Heggy and Zurek, {Richard W.} and Egan, {Anthony F.} and Emanuele Giacomoni and Federica Russo and Marco Cutigni and Elena Pettinelli and Holt, {John W.} and Leuschen, {Carl J.} and Lucia Marinangeli",

year = "2008",

month = may

day = "30",

doi = "10.1126/science.1157546",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "320",

pages = "1182--1185",

journal = "Science",

issn = "0036-8075",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

number = "5880",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mars north polar deposits

T2 - stratigraphy, age, and geodynamical response

AU - Phillips, Roger J.

AU - Zuber, Maria T.

AU - Smrekar, Suzanne E.

AU - Mellon, Michael T.

AU - Head, James W.

AU - Tanaka, Kenneth L.

AU - Putzig, Nathaniel E.

AU - Milkovich, Sarah M.

AU - Campbell, Bruce A.

AU - Plaut, Jeffrey J.

AU - Safaeinili, Ali

AU - Seu, Roberto

AU - Biccari, Daniela

AU - Carter, Lynn M.

AU - Picardi, Giovanni

AU - Orosei, Roberto

AU - Surdas Mohit, P.

AU - Heggy, Essam

AU - Zurek, Richard W.

AU - Egan, Anthony F.

AU - Giacomoni, Emanuele

AU - Russo, Federica

AU - Cutigni, Marco

AU - Pettinelli, Elena

AU - Holt, John W.

AU - Leuschen, Carl J.

AU - Marinangeli, Lucia

PY - 2008/5/30

Y1 - 2008/5/30

N2 - The Shallow Radar (SHARAD) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has imaged the internal stratigraphy of the north polar layered deposits of Mars. Radar reflections within the deposits reveal a laterally continuous deposition of layers, which typically consist of four packets of finely spaced reflectors separated by homogeneous interpacket regions of nearly pure ice. The packet/interpacket structure can be explained by approximately million-year periodicities in Mars' obliquity or orbital eccentricity. The observed ∼100-meter maximum deflection of the underlying substrate in response to the ice load implies that the present-day thickness of an equilibrium elastic lithosphere is greater than 300 kilometers. Alternatively, the response to the load may be in a transient state controlled by mantle viscosity. Both scenarios probably require that Mars has a subchondritic abundance of heat-producing elements.

AB - The Shallow Radar (SHARAD) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has imaged the internal stratigraphy of the north polar layered deposits of Mars. Radar reflections within the deposits reveal a laterally continuous deposition of layers, which typically consist of four packets of finely spaced reflectors separated by homogeneous interpacket regions of nearly pure ice. The packet/interpacket structure can be explained by approximately million-year periodicities in Mars' obliquity or orbital eccentricity. The observed ∼100-meter maximum deflection of the underlying substrate in response to the ice load implies that the present-day thickness of an equilibrium elastic lithosphere is greater than 300 kilometers. Alternatively, the response to the load may be in a transient state controlled by mantle viscosity. Both scenarios probably require that Mars has a subchondritic abundance of heat-producing elements.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=46449139465&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=46449139465&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1126/science.1157546

DO - 10.1126/science.1157546

M3 - Article

C2 - 18483402

AN - SCOPUS:46449139465

VL - 320

SP - 1182

EP - 1185

JO - Science

JF - Science

SN - 0036-8075

IS - 5880

ER -

Access to Document

10.1126/science.1157546