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Pictures of Faults on Mars
European Space Agency ^
| 12-Feb-2006
Posted on 02/12/2006 3:35:07 AM PST by ckilmer
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News
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Pits and tectonic grabens in Phlegethon Catena
Perspective view of Phlegethon Catena
9 February 2006
These images, taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft, show pits and tectonic ‘grabens’ in the Phlegethon Catena region of Mars.
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Map showing Phlegethon Catena in context
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The HRSC obtained these images during orbit 1217 with a ground resolution of approximately 11.9 metres per pixel. The scenes show the region of Phlegethon Catena, centred at approximately 33.9° South and 253.1° East. Located south-east of the Alba Patera volcano, Phlegethon Catena is a region exhibiting a high density of tectonic grabens, which are blocks of terrain that have dropped relative to their surroundings as a result of a geological extension of the crust.
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Colour view of Phlegethon Catena
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In the colour image (left), this swarm of grabens trends roughly north-east to south-west, with individual widths ranging from approximately one half to ten kilometres. The series of closely spaced depressions that exhibit a similar orientation to the grabens is described by the term ‘catena’.
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Black and white nadir view of Phlegethon Catena
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These depressions are rimless, circular to elliptical and range from roughly 0.3 to 2.3 kilometres across. The grabens may have formed as the result of stresses associated with the formation of Alba Patera, which rises three to four kilometres above the surrounding plains, or the Tharsis rise to the south, which reaches up to ten kilometres high.
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Perspective view of Phlegethon Catena - looking north
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It is unclear what process is responsible for the chain of depressions. One possibility is the collapse of the surface due to the removal of subsurface materials, while other suggestions include that tension cracks may have formed in the subsurface and caused subsequent collapse.
The colour scenes have been derived from the three HRSC-colour channels and the nadir channel. The perspective views have been calculated from the digital terrain model derived from the stereo channels. The 3D anaglyph image was calculated from the nadir and one stereo channel. Image resolution has been decreased for use on the internet.
For more information on Mars Express HRSC images, you might like to read our updated 'Frequently Asked Questions'.
Perspective view of Phlegethon Catena - looking south
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: faults; mars; tectonicplates
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1
posted on
02/12/2006 3:35:08 AM PST
by
ckilmer
To: ckilmer
Are these pictures taken on the same movie set where they filmed the lunar landing?
2
posted on
02/12/2006 3:37:00 AM PST
by
Balding_Eagle
(God has blessed Republicans with political enemies who have dementia.)
To: ckilmer
3
posted on
02/12/2006 3:38:03 AM PST
by
Fzob
(Why does this tag line keep showing up?)
To: ckilmer
Wow it's Ted Kennedy's butt crack!
4
posted on
02/12/2006 3:39:25 AM PST
by
ovrtaxt
(Muslims are the only people who make feminists seem laid-back. -Coulter)
To: ovrtaxt
5
posted on
02/12/2006 3:42:39 AM PST
by
R. Scott
(Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
To: R. Scott
Those are 'love blisters'.
6
posted on
02/12/2006 3:43:25 AM PST
by
ovrtaxt
(Muslims are the only people who make feminists seem laid-back. -Coulter)
To: ckilmer
It is unclear what process is responsible for the chain of depressions.Snakes. /s
7
posted on
02/12/2006 3:45:23 AM PST
by
csvset
To: ckilmer
To: ckilmer
Sorry...that was my fault.
9
posted on
02/12/2006 3:47:37 AM PST
by
ExGeeEye
(All Hail the Great Folger, creator of hot brown goodness.)
To: ckilmer
To: Nightshift
11
posted on
02/12/2006 3:48:28 AM PST
by
tutstar
(Baptist Ping List Freepmail me if you want on or off this ping list.)
To: ItsForTheChildren
12
posted on
02/12/2006 3:51:48 AM PST
by
Talking_Mouse
(Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just... Thomas Jefferson)
To: ckilmer
13
posted on
02/12/2006 3:53:14 AM PST
by
SkyPilot
To: Balding_Eagle
Are these pictures taken on the same movie set where they filmed the lunar landing?ROFL!!
14
posted on
02/12/2006 3:54:51 AM PST
by
PistolPaknMama
(Al-Queda can recruit on college campuses but the US military can't! --FReeper airborne)
To: ckilmer
Very interesting. Thanks for posting this.
15
posted on
02/12/2006 3:55:28 AM PST
by
PistolPaknMama
(Al-Queda can recruit on college campuses but the US military can't! --FReeper airborne)
To: ckilmer
I was attacked by a swarm of grabens once.....and it wasn't a pretty sight.
Leni
16
posted on
02/12/2006 3:57:50 AM PST
by
MinuteGal
(Sail the Bounding Main to the Balmy, Palmy Caribbean on FReeps Ahoy 4. Register Now!)
To: ckilmer
It is unclear what process is responsible for the chain of depressions. One possibility is the collapse of the surface due to the removal of subsurface materials, while other suggestions include that tension cracks may have formed in the subsurface and caused subsequent collapse.De-gassing along the fault would be my bet...subsurface, wind buried, CO2 ice heated by subsurface friction along the fault or escaping volcanic fluids, causing the escaping gas to blow away the sediment from above the vents along the fault.
just S.W.A.G.
17
posted on
02/12/2006 4:02:07 AM PST
by
Smokin' Joe
(How often God must weep at humans' folly.)
To: ckilmer
Which one is named: "It's President Bush's" Fault ?
18
posted on
02/12/2006 4:06:33 AM PST
by
genefromjersey
(So much to flame;so little time !)
To: Smokin' Joe
So, you're saying their from GREEN CHEESE FARTS. ???
19
posted on
02/12/2006 4:10:33 AM PST
by
UCANSEE2
(and miles to go before I sleep.)
To: ovrtaxt
20
posted on
02/12/2006 4:10:57 AM PST
by
SkyPilot
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