Abstract
The Mars Express/Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) has conducted the first-ever subsurface probing of the south polar layered deposits (SPLD) revealing internal structure that is rich in detail. We report on subsurface features detected from a set of orbits that passed over the largest of the south polar reentrants, Chasma Australe, at the edge of the SPLD. We present selected MARSIS overflights to both document the unique observations and gain insight into the possible origin of this feature. We conclude that MARSIS observations clearly reveal new evidence of subsurface structure, such as (1) internal bands, (2) the continuation of the Prometheus basin floor beneath the SPLD to form a prominent basal interface, and (3) the presence of a possible ice-rich layer on the Prometheus basin floor extending to 500-m depth. There is no obvious indication of a present-day aquifer at the head of the chasma and identification of features associated with a past aquifer and water flow is ambiguous. While MARSIS observations may not uniquely solve the chasma origin debate, they do reveal the subsurface region beneath this very interesting feature for the first time.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | E04002 |
| Journal | Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets |
| Volume | 113 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Apr 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geophysics
- Oceanography
- Forestry
- Ecology
- Aquatic Science
- Water Science and Technology
- Soil Science
- Geochemistry and Petrology
- Earth-Surface Processes
- Atmospheric Science
- Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Space and Planetary Science
- Palaeontology
Cite this
MARSIS subsurface radar investigations of the South Polar reentrant Chasma Australe. / Farrell, William M.; Clifford, S. M.; Milkovich, S. M.; Plaut, J. J.; Leuschen, C. J.; Picardi, G.; Gurnett, D. A.; Watters, T. R.; Safaeinili, A.; Ivanov, A. B.; Phillips, R. J.; Stofan, E. R.; Heggy, Essam; Cummer, S. A.; Espley, J. R.
In: Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets, Vol. 113, No. 4, E04002, 20.04.2008.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - MARSIS subsurface radar investigations of the South Polar reentrant Chasma Australe
AU - Farrell, William M.
AU - Clifford, S. M.
AU - Milkovich, S. M.
AU - Plaut, J. J.
AU - Leuschen, C. J.
AU - Picardi, G.
AU - Gurnett, D. A.
AU - Watters, T. R.
AU - Safaeinili, A.
AU - Ivanov, A. B.
AU - Phillips, R. J.
AU - Stofan, E. R.
AU - Heggy, Essam
AU - Cummer, S. A.
AU - Espley, J. R.
PY - 2008/4/20
Y1 - 2008/4/20
N2 - The Mars Express/Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) has conducted the first-ever subsurface probing of the south polar layered deposits (SPLD) revealing internal structure that is rich in detail. We report on subsurface features detected from a set of orbits that passed over the largest of the south polar reentrants, Chasma Australe, at the edge of the SPLD. We present selected MARSIS overflights to both document the unique observations and gain insight into the possible origin of this feature. We conclude that MARSIS observations clearly reveal new evidence of subsurface structure, such as (1) internal bands, (2) the continuation of the Prometheus basin floor beneath the SPLD to form a prominent basal interface, and (3) the presence of a possible ice-rich layer on the Prometheus basin floor extending to 500-m depth. There is no obvious indication of a present-day aquifer at the head of the chasma and identification of features associated with a past aquifer and water flow is ambiguous. While MARSIS observations may not uniquely solve the chasma origin debate, they do reveal the subsurface region beneath this very interesting feature for the first time.
AB - The Mars Express/Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) has conducted the first-ever subsurface probing of the south polar layered deposits (SPLD) revealing internal structure that is rich in detail. We report on subsurface features detected from a set of orbits that passed over the largest of the south polar reentrants, Chasma Australe, at the edge of the SPLD. We present selected MARSIS overflights to both document the unique observations and gain insight into the possible origin of this feature. We conclude that MARSIS observations clearly reveal new evidence of subsurface structure, such as (1) internal bands, (2) the continuation of the Prometheus basin floor beneath the SPLD to form a prominent basal interface, and (3) the presence of a possible ice-rich layer on the Prometheus basin floor extending to 500-m depth. There is no obvious indication of a present-day aquifer at the head of the chasma and identification of features associated with a past aquifer and water flow is ambiguous. While MARSIS observations may not uniquely solve the chasma origin debate, they do reveal the subsurface region beneath this very interesting feature for the first time.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=47049128464&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=47049128464&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1029/2007JE002974
DO - 10.1029/2007JE002974
M3 - Article
VL - 113
JO - JAPCA
JF - JAPCA
SN - 1073-161X
IS - 4
M1 - E04002
ER -