Role of aquicludes in formation of Martian gullies

Abstract

Research Article| December 01, 2002 Role of aquicludes in formation of Martian gullies Martha S. Gilmore; Martha S. Gilmore 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Wesleyan University, 265 Church Street, Middletown, Connecticut 06459, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Eleyne L. Phillips Eleyne L. Phillips 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Wesleyan University, 265 Church Street, Middletown, Connecticut 06459, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Martha S. Gilmore 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Wesleyan University, 265 Church Street, Middletown, Connecticut 06459, USA Eleyne L. Phillips 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Wesleyan University, 265 Church Street, Middletown, Connecticut 06459, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 15 May 2002 Revision Received: 23 Aug 2002 Accepted: 24 Aug 2002 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2002) 30 (12): 1107–1110. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<1107:ROAIFO>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 15 May 2002 Revision Received: 23 Aug 2002 Accepted: 24 Aug 2002 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Martha S. Gilmore, Eleyne L. Phillips; Role of aquicludes in formation of Martian gullies. Geology 2002;; 30 (12): 1107–1110. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<1107:ROAIFO>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Liquid water is not currently stable on the surface of Mars, but images provided by the Mars Orbiter Camera aboard the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft reveal erosional landforms previously interpreted to be geologically young gullies formed by groundwater seepage. We test the basic hypothesis that, as on Earth, the location of these gullies is controlled in part by the presence of an impermeable rock layer (aquiclude) and that the depths of the gully heads below the surface should thus be correlated to subsurface geology. We show that (1) gullies emanate from a specific cliff-forming layer, even if the layer is faulted, and (2) the depth of gullies below the local surface ranges from 70 to 800 m, and (3) is positively correlated to mapped geologic units. Gully formation is therefore dependent upon both favorable climatic conditions to produce and sustain liquid water and the presence of impermeable subsurface layers to collect the groundwater. Gullies may mark the distribution of subsurface impermeable layers globally, and are prime targets for the search for present water and life on Mars. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.