Tag Archives: volcanics

Mantle plumes still active under Tharsis, Elysium?

[Editor’s note: From a paper by A.-C. Plesa and eight co-authors recently published in Geophysical Research Letters.] The thermal state and interior structure of Mars We constrain the thermal state and interior structure of Mars by combining a large number … Continue reading

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THEMIS: Pit chains and craters on Ascraeus Mons

THEMIS Image of the Day, November 7, 2018. The linear features in this VIS image are located on part of the large flow feature on the southern flank of Ascraeus Mons. The features most likely formed by collapse of the … Continue reading

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HiRISE: A caldera’s steep slopes

This image shows part of the steep wall of the caldera (a large volcanic crater) at the top of Ascraeus Mons, one of Mars’ giant volcanoes. We can see chutes carved into the soft dust that has built up on … Continue reading

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HiRISE: Possible rock falls on steep slopes

Possible rock falls on steep slopes in Cerberus Fossae. Our goal here is to take “before” images at HiRISE resolution in order to identify fresh rockfalls that might be able to be associated with seismic events or Marsquakes detected by … Continue reading

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Olympus Mons and Ascraeus Mons: Geologically recent lava inflation

The summit of Olympus Mons displays lava flows, some of which are truncated by the caldera, that appear to have flowed uphill. Because lava flows downhill, this mismatch between the flow direction and present-day topography suggests that the terrain has … Continue reading

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Volcanic ash: Major source of Mars dust?

[Editor’s note: From a paper by Charlie Bristow and Torsten Moller, recently published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.] Dust Production by Abrasion of Eolian Basalt Sands: Analogue for Martian Dust • Collisions between particles and surfaces during eolian abrasion … Continue reading

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THEMIS: Isolated hills on Arcadia Planitia

THEMIS Image of the Day, October 23, 2018. This false-color VIS image shows some of the plains of Arcadia Planitia in the northern lowlands. Isolated small hills are a common feature in this part of the planitia. Hills like these … Continue reading

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HiRISE: The pits of Elysium Mons

During the 2018 Mars dust storm, we obtained a clear view of the summit of the giant volcano Elysium Mons. We see the western rim and floor of the caldera, and a chain of pits (called a “catena”) extending from … Continue reading

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THEMIS: Lava flows on plains east of Hecates Tholus

THEMIS image of the Day, October 16, 2018. This VIS image shows the plains to the east of Hecates Tholus. In this false-color view lie several lava flow fronts and scattered impact craters. The THEMIS VIS camera contains 5 filters. … Continue reading

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HiRISE: Rising above it in Amazonis Planitia

This image shows a bright, rectangular-looking landform surrounded by a dark floor. How did this feature get here if it looks so different than its surroundings? The feature resembles a plateau. Dark streaks mark steep slopes on its sides while … Continue reading

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