Basal melting of snow on early Mars: A possible origin of some valley networks

Carr, Michael H.; Head, James W.

doi:10.1029/2003gl018575

Cited by 77Planetary Science and ExplorationAstro and Planetary ScienceGeology and Paleoclimatology Research

Basal melting of snow on early Mars: A possible origin of some valley networks

Carr, Michael H., Head, James W.·2003·Geophysical Research Letters

DOI 10.1029/2003gl018575

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Abstract

Valley networks appear to be cut by liquid water, yet simulations suggest that early Mars could not have been warmed enough by a CO2‐H2O greenhouse to permit rainfall. The vulnerability of an early atmosphere to impact erosion, the likely rapid scavenging of CO2 from the atmosphere by weathering, and the lack of detection of weathering products all support a cold early Mars. We explore the hypothesis that valley networks could have formed as a result of basal melting of thick snow and ice deposits. Depending on the heat flow, an early snowpack a few hundred meters to a few kilometers thick could undergo basal melting, providing water to cut valley networks.

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The dendritic geomorphology of Martian valley networks strongly suggests an origin due to a hydrological cycle driven by precipitation as rain or snow rather than groundwater sapping or basal melting of thick ice sheets.
“This geomorphology strongly suggests an origin due to a hydrological cycle driven by precipitation (as rain or snow) (Craddock & Howard 2002; Mangold et al. 2004; Stepinski &Stepinski 2005; Barnhart, Howard & Moore 2009; Hynek, Beach & Hoke 2010; Matsubara, Howard & Gochenour 2013) rather than e.g., groundwater sapping (Squyres & Kasting 1994) or basal melting of thick icesheets (Carr & Head 2003)”
From The Climate of Early Mars (2016) · cites this paper as Carr & Head 2003

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Authors: Carr, M. H., & Head, J. W.
Affiliations: United States Geological Survey (US)
Department of Geological Sciences Brown University Providence Rhode Island USA
ORCID: Carr, Michael H.
Venue: Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Published: 2003-12
Volume: 30
Issue: 24
ISSN: 0094-8276 (ISSN-L)
1944-8007
DOI: 10.1029/2003gl018575
OpenAlex: W2039319719
Cited by: 77
References: 43
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 2
FWCI: 2.31
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 16 d)
Locations: Geophysical Research Letters (publishedVersion)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
Keywords: valley networks, basal melting, early Mars, liquid water, impact erosion, heat flow, Martian paleoclimate

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Basal melting of snow on early Mars: A possible origin of some valley networks

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