Mars and Earth: Comparison of cold-climate features

Icarus
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Abstract

On Earth, glacial and periglacial features are common in areas of cold climate. On Mars, the temperature of the present-day surface is appropriate for permafrost, and the presence of water is suspected from data relating to the outgassing of the planet, from remote-sensing measurements over the polar caps and elsewhere on the Martian surface, and from recognition of fluvial morphological features such as channels. These observations and the possibility that ice could be in equilibrium with the atmosphere in the high latitudes north and south of ±40° latitude suggest that glacial and periglacial features should exist on the planet. Morphological studies based mainly on Viking pictures indicate many features that can be attributed to the action of ice. Among these features are extensive talus aprons; debris avalanches; flows that resemble glaciers or rock glaciers; ridges that look like moraines; various types of patterned ground, scalloped scarps, and chaotically collapsed terrain that could be attributed to thermokarst processes; and landforms that may reflect the interaction of volcanism and ice.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Mars and Earth: Comparison of cold-climate features
Series title Icarus
DOI 10.1016/0019-1035(81)90035-X
Volume 45
Issue 2
Year Published 1981
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Astrogeology Science Center
Description 40 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Icarus
First page 264
Last page 303
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