Aram Dorsum: an extensive mid-Noachian age fluvial depositional system in Arabia Terra, Mars
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A major debate in Mars science is the nature of the early Mars climate, and the availability of precipitation and runoff. Observations of relict erosional valley networks have been proposed as evidence for extensive surface runoff around the Noachian-Hesperian boundary. However, these valley networks only provide a time-integrated record of landscape evolution, and thus, the timing, relative timescales and intensity of aqueous activity required to erode the valleys remain unknown. Here, we investigate an ancient fluvial sedimentary system in western Arabia Terra, now preserved in positive relief. This ridge, “Aram Dorsum,” is flat-topped, branching, ~85 km long, and particularly well preserved. We show that Aram Dorsum was an aggradational alluvial system and that the existing ridge was once a large river channel belt set in extensive flood plains, many of which are still preserved. Smaller, palaeochannel belts feed the main system; their setting and network pattern suggest a distributed source of water. The alluvial succession is up to 60 m thick, suggesting a formation time of 105 to 107 years by analogy to Earth. Our observations are consistent with Aram Dorsum having formed by long-lived flows of water, sourced both locally, and regionally as part of a wider alluvial system in Arabia Terra. This suggests frequent or seasonal precipitation as the source of water. Correlating our observations with previous regional-scale mapping shows that Aram Dorsum formed in the mid-Noachian. Aram Dorsum is one of the oldest fluvial systems described on Mars and indicates climatic conditions that sustained surface river flows on early Mars.
Date Issued
2020-05
Date Acceptance
2020-03-25
Citation
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 2020, 125 (5)
ISSN
2169-9097
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Volume
125
Issue
5
Copyright Statement
©2020. The Authors.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000537906800018&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=a2bf6146997ec60c407a63945d4e92bb
Subjects
AEOLIS DORSA
BASIN
CLIMATE-CHANGE
GALE CRATER
Geochemistry & Geophysics
HISTORY
LARGE ALLUVIAL FANS
MERIDIANI-PLANUM
Physical Sciences
RIVER
Science & Technology
STRATIGRAPHY
SURFACE
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
e2019JE006244
Date Publish Online
2020-04-15