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 › peer-review

210 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

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General

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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 › peer-review

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.

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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.",

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AU - Giacomoni, Emanuele

AU - Russo, Federica

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