Post by spacecowboy2006 on Jan 18, 2017 17:55:54 GMT
Located on the northern edge of Arabia Terra, the Deuteronilus Mensae region lies along the flat northern lowlands / rugged southern highlands dichotomy boundary in the northern hemisphere of Mars and it shows features found in both. Spanning approximately from 37 - 43.62 degrees north latitude, 23 - 28.62 degrees east longitude, it is one of the most striking features on Mars. The boundary between these two regions is marked by a transition characterized by an intact highland zone and areas with remnant mesas and isolated eroded knobs. [The region is below the Mars median elevation.]
This region contains many mesas surrounded by lobate debris aprons that are thought to be ice-rich. These aprons have been interpreted as a variety of possible features including rock glaciers, ice-rich mass movements, or debris-covered glacial flows. Recent radar data from the Shallow Radar instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has shown them to be composed of nearly pure ice.
Both, mesa tops and the surface of the debris apron appear covered with ice-rich mantling materials characteristic of the Martian mid-latitudes and thought to have been deposited around 10 million years ago.
Features of Deuteronilus Mensae are primarily characterized by ice. Mars experienced numerous events of this kind in the past, when rising magma or impacts caused frozen groundwater to melt resulting in major flooding events. Deuteronilus Mensae depicts different stages of highland degradation.
In addition, the region includes:
Individual mesas stand like islands in an ocean.
Scarps (steep slopes) up to 2 miles (3kilometers) high. The high-standing topography at the top of the scarps.
Remnant impact craters that have degraded throughout time.
Valleys which may have originated from intense flooding by melted water ice.
Deeply incised valleys with a depth ranging from 2,600 to 4,000 feet (800 to 1200 meters) are clearly identifiable.
Polygonal fractures, possibly formed by thermal cycles in ice-rich ground, are visible throughout the scene.
The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter recorded this image on March 9, 2010. The target for this HiRISE observation was a suggestion submitted through the camera team's HiWish public-suggestion program.
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[Zoom in and you can see the glacial flow patterns around the mesas. As well as search for other features mentioned in the overview. You can also learn more by checking Featured Satellite Images in the region.]
This region contains many mesas surrounded by lobate debris aprons that are thought to be ice-rich. These aprons have been interpreted as a variety of possible features including rock glaciers, ice-rich mass movements, or debris-covered glacial flows. Recent radar data from the Shallow Radar instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has shown them to be composed of nearly pure ice.
Both, mesa tops and the surface of the debris apron appear covered with ice-rich mantling materials characteristic of the Martian mid-latitudes and thought to have been deposited around 10 million years ago.
Features of Deuteronilus Mensae are primarily characterized by ice. Mars experienced numerous events of this kind in the past, when rising magma or impacts caused frozen groundwater to melt resulting in major flooding events. Deuteronilus Mensae depicts different stages of highland degradation.
In addition, the region includes:
Individual mesas stand like islands in an ocean.
Scarps (steep slopes) up to 2 miles (3kilometers) high. The high-standing topography at the top of the scarps.
Remnant impact craters that have degraded throughout time.
Valleys which may have originated from intense flooding by melted water ice.
Deeply incised valleys with a depth ranging from 2,600 to 4,000 feet (800 to 1200 meters) are clearly identifiable.
Polygonal fractures, possibly formed by thermal cycles in ice-rich ground, are visible throughout the scene.
The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter recorded this image on March 9, 2010. The target for this HiRISE observation was a suggestion submitted through the camera team's HiWish public-suggestion program.
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[Zoom in and you can see the glacial flow patterns around the mesas. As well as search for other features mentioned in the overview. You can also learn more by checking Featured Satellite Images in the region.]
