Tag Archives: lava flows

THEMIS image: Tharsis lava flows

Posted on February 5, 2014 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, February 5, 2014. This VIS image shows a small portion of the extensive lava flows created by the large Tharsis volcanoes. These flows are located north east of Ascraeus Mons. More THEMIS Images of the … Continue reading →

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THEMIS image: Olympus Mons

Posted on February 3, 2014 by rburnham

THEMIS Image of the Day, February 3, 2014. The narrow lava flows in this VIS image are located on the northeastern flank of Olympus Mons, below the large escarpment that encircles the volcano.

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Lava flows resurfaced crater lakes after water was gone

Posted on January 1, 2013 by rburnham

Fire and water didn’t mix when it came to resurfacing basins that lie along Martian fluvial valley networks. A study of some 30 open-basin lakes (paleolakes) with floors covered by lava flows has concluded that at least these basins were … Continue reading →

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Hesperian lava floods thicker than previously thought

Posted on October 23, 2012 by rburnham

A study examining layered “megablocks” of lava in the central parts of Mars craters concludes that flood lavas in the Hesperian epoch were at least 23 percent thicker than previously known. The research says this shows there has been more … Continue reading →

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Touching Mars from Earth

Posted on August 28, 2012 by rburnham

Remote sensing of Mars usually happens when spacecraft sensors look down from orbit around the Red Planet. But sensors on Earth can also get in on the fun, especially when they actively reach out to the planet via radio waves. … Continue reading →

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“Olympic” ocean in Tharsis?

Posted on July 30, 2012 by rburnham

Two features of Olympus Mons have puzzled geologists since they were discovered decades ago. First are the “aureole” deposits, rough terrain extending as much as 400 kilometers (250 miles) from the volcano. And second is the scarp, about 8,000 meters … Continue reading →

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Lava coils: new form of flow discovered on Mars

Posted on April 26, 2012 by rburnham

High-resolution photos of Martian lava flows show coiling spiral patterns that resemble snail or nautilus shells. Such patterns have been found in a few locations on Earth, but never before on Mars. The discovery appears in a paper in Science … Continue reading →

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Did Tharsis change its volcanic style?

Posted on January 18, 2012 by rburnham

Volcanic activity on Mars tends toward an “effusive” eruption style: it produces many low-profile, broad-skirted volcanos. These are made with sheets of runny lavas that flow like warm motor oil for long distances, spilling over and around obstacles or burying … Continue reading →

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Hunting for young lava flows

Posted on June 1, 2011 by rburnham

The quest to find the youngest, most recent lava flows on Mars inevitably leads back to two highly volcanic regions: Elysium and especially Tharsis. A group of researchers led by Ernst Hauber (DLR, Berlin) has zeroed in on Tharsis. Ignoring … Continue reading →

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