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North–south topographic slope asymmetry on Mars: Evidence for insolation‐related erosion at high obliquity
Author(s) -
Kreslavsky M. A.,
Head J. W.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2003gl017795
Subject(s) - equator , geology , asymmetry , mars exploration program , latitude , insolation , erosion , geomorphology , geodesy , climatology , physics , quantum mechanics , astronomy
A map of north–south subkilometer‐scale slope asymmetry on Mars obtained from statistical analysis of along‐track MOLA topographic profiles reveals well‐defined zonal belts of north–south slope asymmetry at 40–50° latitude in both hemispheres. In these narrow anomalous belts the pole‐facing slopes are systematically gentler than equator‐facing slopes. This asymmetry is especially pronounced for the steepest (>20°) slopes, in which pole‐facing slopes are three times less frequent than >20° slopes facing the equator. We interpret these belts to be related to insolation asymmetry. Specifically, we suggest that summertime melting of ground ice on pole‐facing slopes occurred during periods of very high obliquity (∼45°) in the past and favored downslope movement of material and reduction of steep pole‐facing slopes.