Sign on

SAO/NASA ADS Astronomy Abstract Service


· Find Similar Abstracts (with default settings below)
· Electronic Refereed Journal Article (HTML)
· Full Refereed Journal Article (PDF/Postscript)
· References in the article
· Citations to the Article (40) (Citation History)
· Refereed Citations to the Article
· Also-Read Articles (Reads History)
·
· Translate This Page
Title:
Seasonal Flows on Warm Martian Slopes
Authors:
McEwen, Alfred S.; Ojha, Lujendra; Dundas, Colin M.; Mattson, Sarah S.; Byrne, Shane; Wray, James J.; Cull, Selby C.; Murchie, Scott L.; Thomas, Nicolas; Gulick, Virginia C.
Affiliation:
AA(Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA), AB(Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA), AC(U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA), AD(Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA), AE(Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA), AF(Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA), AG(Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA), AH(Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD 20723, USA), AI(Physikalisches Institut, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland), AJ(NASA Ames Research Center and SETI Institute, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA)
Publication:
Science, Volume 333, Issue 6043, pp. 740- (2011). (Sci Homepage)
Publication Date:
08/2011
Category:
PLANET SCI
Origin:
SCIENCE
Abstract Copyright:
(c) 2011: Science
DOI:
10.1126/science.1204816
Bibliographic Code:
2011Sci...333..740M

Abstract

Water probably flowed across ancient Mars, but whether it ever exists as a liquid on the surface today remains debatable. Recurring slope lineae (RSL) are narrow (0.5 to 5 meters), relatively dark markings on steep (25° to 40°) slopes; repeat images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment show them to appear and incrementally grow during warm seasons and fade in cold seasons. They extend downslope from bedrock outcrops, often associated with small channels, and hundreds of them form in some rare locations. RSL appear and lengthen in the late southern spring and summer from 48°S to 32°S latitudes favoring equator-facing slopes, which are times and places with peak surface temperatures from ~250 to 300 kelvin. Liquid brines near the surface might explain this activity, but the exact mechanism and source of water are not understood.
Bibtex entry for this abstract   Preferred format for this abstract (see Preferences)

  New!

Find Similar Abstracts:

Use: Authors
Title
Abstract Text
Return: Query Results Return    items starting with number
Query Form
Database: Astronomy
Physics
arXiv e-prints