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"The Waters of Meridiani" - Further Support for a Fluvial Interpretation of the Ridged, Layered UnitsA relatively unknown terrestrial fluvial environment, the mesoscale megafan, provides analogs for various Martian landscapes, including the etched unit (etched unit, Unite E of Arvidson et al., 2003; ridge-forming unit R of Edgett, 2005) of the Sinus Meridiani region on Mars. A global survey of Earth shows that megafans are very large partial cones of dominantly fluvial sediment with radii on the order of hundreds of km, and very low slopes. Responsible fluvial processes are sufficiently different from those of classical arid alluvial fans and deltas that it is useful to class megafans as separate features. The megafan model calls into question two commonly held ideas. 1. Earth examples prove that topographic basins per se are unnecessary for the accumulation of large sedimentary bodies. 2. River channels are by no means restricted to valleys (Meridiani sediments are termed a "valley-ed volume" of Edgett). These perspectives reveal unexpected parallels with features at Meridiani-several channel-like features that are widespread, mostly as ridges inverted by eolian erosion; channel networks covering thousands of sq km, especially on intercrater plains; and regional relationships of sediment bodies situated immediately downstream of highland masses. These all suggest that fluvial explanations are at least part of the Meridiani story.
Document ID
20090011774
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Wilkinson, Justin
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Kreslavsky, Misha
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
February 27, 2009
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
JSC-17901
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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