Mangold Nicolas, Quantin Cathy, Ansan Véronique, Delacourt Christophe, Allemand Pascal
Laboratoire IDES, UMR CNRS and Université Paris-Sud, Orsay Campus, 91405 Orsay, France.
Science. 2004 Jul 2;305(5680):78-81. doi: 10.1126/science.1097549.
Dendritic valleys on the plateau and canyons of the Valles Marineris region were identified from Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) images taken by Mars Odyssey. The geomorphic characteristics of these valleys, especially their high degree of branching, favor formation by atmospheric precipitation. The presence of inner channels and the maturity of the branched networks indicate sustained fluid flows over geologically long periods of time. These fluvial landforms occur within the Late Hesperian units (about 2.9 to 3.4 billion years old), when Mars was thought to have been cold. Our results suggest a period of warmer conditions conducive to hydrological activity.
从“火星奥德赛”号拍摄的热发射成像系统（THEMIS）图像中识别出了水手谷地区高原上的树枝状谷地和峡谷。这些谷地的地貌特征，尤其是其高度的分支状态，有利于由大气降水形成。内部渠道的存在以及分支网络的成熟表明在地质长时间内存在持续的流体流动。这些河流地貌出现在晚赫斯珀利亚纪单元（约29亿至34亿年前）内，当时火星被认为是寒冷的。我们的结果表明存在一段有利于水文活动的温暖时期。
