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Radar evidence for ice in lobate debris aprons in the mid‐northern latitudes of Mars
Author(s) -
Plaut Jeffrey J.,
Safaeinili Ali,
Holt John W.,
Phillips Roger J.,
Head James W.,
Seu Roberto,
Putzig Nathaniel E.,
Frigeri Alessandro
Publication year - 2009
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 - 10.1029/2008gl036379
Subject(s) - mars exploration program , geology , debris , astrobiology , latitude , remote sensing , oceanography , geodesy , physics
Subsurface radar sounding data indicate that lobate debris aprons found in Deuteronilus Mensae in the mid‐northern latitudes of Mars are composed predominantly of water ice. The position in time delay and the relatively low amount of signal loss of the apparent basal reflectors below the debris aprons indicate that aprons contain only a minor component of lithic material. The current presence of large ice masses at these latitudes has important implications for the climate evolution of Mars, and for future targets for in situ exploration.