First high-resolution stratigraphic column of the Martian north polar layered deposits
Abstract
This study achieves the first high-spatial-resolution, layer-scale, measured stratigraphic column of the Martian north polar layered deposits using a 1m-posting DEM. The marker beds found throughout the upper North Polar Layered Deposits range in thickness from 1.6 m-16.0 m +/- 1.4 m, and 6 of 13 marker beds are separated by ∼25-35 m. Thin-layer sets have average layer separations of 1.6 m. These layer separations may account for the spectral-power-peaks found in previous brightness-profile analyses. Marker-bed layer thicknesses show a weak trend of decreasing thickness with depth that we interpret to potentially be the result of a decreased accumulation rate in the past, for those layers. However, the stratigraphic column reveals that a simple rhythmic or bundled layer sequence is not immediately apparent throughout the column, implying that the relationship between polar layer formation and cyclic climate forcing is quite complex.
- Publication:
-
Geophysical Research Letters
- Pub Date:
- April 2010
- DOI:
- 10.1029/2009GL041642
- Bibcode:
- 2010GeoRL..37.7201F
- Keywords:
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- Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Polar regions;
- Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Mars;
- Geochronology: Planetary and lunar geochronology;
- Geochronology: Geomorphological geochronology;
- Cryosphere: Ice cores (4932)