Generation of recent massive water floods at Cerberus Fossae, Mars, by dike emplacement, cryosphere cracking, and confined aquifer groundwater release.

Wilson, Lionel and Head, James W. and Mitchell, K. L. (2003) Generation of recent massive water floods at Cerberus Fossae, Mars, by dike emplacement, cryosphere cracking, and confined aquifer groundwater release. Geophysical Research Letters, 30 (11). p. 1577. ISSN 0094-8276

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Abstract

Previous studies noted the close association of geologically very recent lava flows and fluvial channels emanating from Cerberus Fossae. To assess these relationships, we outline a model of magmatic dike emplacement that involves 1) surface fractures and localized volcanic eruptions, 2) attendant cryospheric cracking to fracture the surface and release pressurized groundwater confined beneath the cryosphere, 3) effusion of water along a segment of the fracture to form Athabasca Valles, and 4) heating of the regions adjacent to the dike to cause melting and subsequent subsidence of the surface, forming late-stage pits and depressions. Previous estimates of the aqueous discharge were ∼1–2 × 106 m3 s −1. Our models show that this flux could be readily accommodated by flow through adjacent dike-related cryospheric fractures at water rise speeds of ∼60 m/s. The required aquifer permeability, however, is far larger than commonly encountered over similar depths and scales on Earth. This suggests that water may be transported in the subsurface by mechanism more efficient than porous flow, and/or that the previously proposed volume flux values are overestimates.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Geophysical Research Letters
Additional Information:
Wilson and post-doc Mitchell jointly provided the physical model and mathematical analysis, Head (Brown Univ.) the observations. The importance of geologically recent volcanic activity on Mars in causing release of plentiful water, currently present but trapped beneath the frozen crust, is documented. RAE_import_type : Journal article RAE_uoa_type : Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/libraryofcongress/ge
Subjects:
?? GEOPHYSICSEARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES(ALL)GE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES ??
ID Code:
2149
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
08 Apr 2008 08:02
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
18 Sep 2023 00:08