Potentially habitable flow-like features from Martian dry ice geyser dune spots: Difference between revisions
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These intriguing high latitude features are associated with the [[Geyser (Mars)|Martian Geysers]]. The geysers themselves (if that is what they are) are thought to be results of dry ice turning to gas. The dark spots - which at one point were thought to be photosynthetic life, are now thought to be the debris from the geysers. |
These intriguing high latitude features are associated with the [[Geyser (Mars)|Martian Geysers]]. The geysers themselves (if that is what they are) are thought to be results of dry ice turning to gas. The dark spots - which at one point were thought to be photosynthetic life, are now thought to be the debris from the geysers. |
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However, later in the year the flow like features extend down the slopes from the dark spots, sometimes at a rate of meters per day. The details differ for the two hemispheres. In the Southern hemisphere, |
However, later in the year the flow like features extend down the slopes from the dark spots, sometimes at a rate of meters per day. The details differ for the two hemispheres. In the Southern hemisphere, both of the current models for this part of the process involve liquid water. In one of the models the features from initially as fresh water at 0 °C below clear ice in a solid state greenhouse effect, picking up salts as they start to flow outwards. In the northern hemisphere then most of the models also involve water, but dust could also be involved. The northern hemisphere flow like features form at much lower surface temperatures and if they involve brines the temperatures are around -90 °C. The southern hemisphere Richardson crater flow-like features are the ones of most interest for potentially habitable brines. |
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This image shows the flow like features of the southern hemisphere. |
This image shows the flow like features of the southern hemisphere. |
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