Formation of recurring slope lineae by liquid brines on present‐day Mars

Abstract

Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL) are small scale seasonal flow features identified by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter that present several interesting characteristics such as an albedo contrast, seasonal dependence, and a strong preference for equator‐facing slopes. All of these characteristics strongly suggest a thermally driven mechanism such as a liquid triggered or dominated flow. Here we investigate the possibility that these features are formed by melting of brines of various compositions via a combination of thermodynamic and kinetic numerical models. Results suggest that a solution with a freezing temperature of ∼223 K can best reproduce the observed seasonality. Relatively high surface evaporation rates at the RSL locations make the flows quickly disappear over a single season. Our model reproduces well the seasonality of RSL and can explain the preference for equator‐facing slopes suggesting that brine flows, and therefore liquids, are possible on a small time and space scale today on Mars. However, if the RSL are indeed formed by brines, it may indicate that a recharge mechanism is active in order to maintain a source of brine over even short geological timescales, which would have important implications for the Martian water cycle.