Search Publications
Planetary surface dating from crater size-frequency distribution measurements: Partial resurfacing events and statistical age uncertainty
Neukum, G.; Michael, G. G.
We describe the procedure to fit a cumulative production function polynomial to a partial crater size-frequency distribution. The technique is of particular use in deriving ages for surfaces which have undergone partial resurfacing events: namely, erosional or depositional events which have affected a limited diameter range of the crater populatio…
Geologic history of Mars
Head, James W.; Carr, Michael H.
Mars accumulated and differentiated into crust, mantle and core within a few tens of millions of years of Solar System formation. Formation of Hellas, which has been adopted as the base of the Noachian period, is estimated to have occurred around 4.1 to 3.8 Gyr ago, depending on whether or not the planet experienced a late cataclysm. Little is kno…
Northern mid-latitude glaciation in the Late Amazonian period of Mars: Criteria for the recognition of debris-covered glacier and valley glacier landsystem deposits
Head, James W.; Marchant, David R.; Dickson, James L. +2 more
Lobate debris aprons (LDA) and lineated valley fill (LVF) have been known to characterize the mid-latitude regions of Mars since documented by Viking; their flow-like character suggested that deposition of ice in talus pile pore space caused lubrication and flow during an earlier climatic regime. A number of factors have remained uncertain, howeve…
Topography of Mars from global mapping by HRSC high-resolution digital terrain models and orthoimages: Characteristics and performance
Jaumann, R.; Oberst, J.; Preusker, F. +7 more
We report on the results of the Mars Express High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) experiment pertaining to one of its major aims, mapping the surface of Mars by high-resolution digital terrain models (DTM, up to 50 m grid spacing) and orthoimages (up to 12.5 m resolution). We introduce the specifications and characteristics of these data products …
The geologic evolution of Mars: Episodicity of resurfacing events and ages from cratering analysis of image data and correlation with radiometric ages of Martian meteorites
Jaumann, R.; Neukum, G.; Hoffmann, H. +6 more
We have investigated 12 prominent regions on Mars in detail with respect to their geologic evolution through time on the basis of detailed geologic mapping exercises and determining age relationships through crater counting techniques using imagery. New data in combination with previously obtained data have been analyzed by way of a refined method…
Phobos control point network, rotation, and shape
Oberst, J.; Matz, K. -D.; Hoffmann, H. +5 more
A new independent control point network for Phobos was computed from image data obtained by the SRC (Super Resolution Channel) on board the European Mars Express Mission. The network solution includes 3D coordinates of 665 surface control points and was used to observe the forced libration amplitude of Phobos. Based on the network control points a…
Palaeoflow reconstruction from fan delta morphology on Mars
Hauber, Ernst; Kleinhans, Maarten G.; van de Kasteele, Hester E.
Alluvial fans and deltas on Mars record past hydrological conditions. Until now these conditions have been inferred from the morphology of the feeder channels and the deposits from images and digital terrain models (DTMs), and from calculations of the bulk fluxes of water and sediment based on the dimensions of upstream channels. Neither method ca…
Kilometer-thick ice accumulation and glaciation in the northern mid-latitudes of Mars: Evidence for crater-filling events in the Late Amazonian at the Phlegra Montes
Head, James W.; Marchant, David R.; Dickson, James L.
Amazonian non-polar ice deposits on Mars record periods and events when the climate differed substantially from that of today. Particularly evident are examples of ice-rich deposits in the martian mid-latitudes (lobate debris aprons, lineated valley fill, and concentric crater fill). Uncertain, however, is the amount of ice remaining in these depo…
Distribution and orientation of northern-hemisphere gullies on Mars from the evaluation of HRSC and MOC-NA data
Neukum, G.; van Gasselt, S.; Reiss, D. +1 more
Martian gullies show morphologic characteristics that indicate the presence of a flowing liquid during their formation process. However, the current climate in the northern hemisphere of Mars does not allow the existence of substantial amounts of liquid water and, therefore, an assessment of the regional distribution and characteristics of gullies…
The Western Libya Montes Valley System on Mars: Evidence for episodic and multi-genetic erosion events during the Martian history
Jaumann, R.; Tirsch, D.; Neukum, G. +2 more
A valley network in the Western Libya Montes region extending from 80°E to 83.4°E and 1.2°S to 3.9°N exhibits significant detail about water release processes and duration of erosional activities. The valley system originates at the southeastern offshoot of Syrtis Major and drains down to Isidis Planitia over a distance of about 300 km. Midstream,…