Ng, F.S.L. and Zuber, M.T. (2006) Patterning instability on the Mars polar ice caps. Journal of Geophysical Research - Plants, 111 (E2). Art no.E02005 . ISSN 0148-0227
Abstract
We present a mathematical theory to study the origin of large-scale spiral troughs on the Mars residual polar caps, starting with the hypothesis that atmospheric circulation governs the planform of the troughs via an instability that operates in the flow direction of surface winds. This concept can explain why the troughs spiral at each pole in an opposite sense to that expected for Coriolis-deflected winds. The instability arises from interactions on water ice, assumed to contain dust, and depends on how the exchange of atmospheric dust and moisture (H2O) with the polar cap surface controls its albedo and mass and energy balance. Our model predicts spatial patterns to form when moisture is carried by wind over the surface, owing to unstable coupling between the albedo and the H2O-vapor pressure. The resulting albedo pattern causes an alternating "accumulation-ablation'' mass balance, so that an undulating topography develops which resembles the (dark) troughs and their adjacent (bright) smooth terrains on the polar caps. Because the albedo patterning process is fast, whereas topographic evolution is slow, we suggest that an ancient imprint in the surface albedo preconditions today's trough morphology.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2006 American Geophysical Union. Reproduced in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Orbiter Laser Altimeter; Layered Deposits; Water Ice; Flow; Topography; Sublimation; Variability; Features; History; Regions |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Department of Geography (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Miss Anthea Tucker |
Date Deposited: | 14 Dec 2010 09:19 |
Last Modified: | 04 Jun 2014 19:42 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2005JE002533 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | American Geophysical Union |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1029/2005JE002533 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:42721 |