Active Boulder Falls in Terra Sirenum, Mars: Constraints on Timing and Causes
Abstract We use time series images to identify significant active boulder falls in an impact crater on Mars. Evidence for active boulder falls include boulder trails with impact marks from bouncing and rolling, and dark patches from boulder impacts away from the base of the crater walls. We were abl...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094817 |
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| author | Peter M. Grindrod Joel M. Davis Susan J. Conway Tjalling deHaas |
| author_facet | Peter M. Grindrod Joel M. Davis Susan J. Conway Tjalling deHaas |
| author_sort | Peter M. Grindrod |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We use time series images to identify significant active boulder falls in an impact crater on Mars. Evidence for active boulder falls include boulder trails with impact marks from bouncing and rolling, and dark patches from boulder impacts away from the base of the crater walls. We were able to define three time periods with active boulder falls and additional slope streak formation, for which we refined the most significant activity to a time period between January 2012 and March 2013. A search of 236 images within 500 km of the study site identified two further sites with similar, but reduced, activity during the same time period. We discuss plausible mechanisms for the boulder fall activity, and conclude that the local geology and crater age is likely to be of significant importance. Our method of identifying and highlighting such activity will allow further studies of active surface processes on Mars. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ad302cada9ef4d53b91213fcb7d9988e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-ad302cada9ef4d53b91213fcb7d9988e2025-08-20T03:22:14ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072021-10-014820n/an/a10.1029/2021GL094817Active Boulder Falls in Terra Sirenum, Mars: Constraints on Timing and CausesPeter M. Grindrod0Joel M. Davis1Susan J. Conway2Tjalling deHaas3Department of Earth Sciences Natural History Museum London UKDepartment of Earth Sciences Natural History Museum London UKLaboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique Nantes FranceDepartment of Physical Geography Universiteit Utrecht Utrecht The NetherlandsAbstract We use time series images to identify significant active boulder falls in an impact crater on Mars. Evidence for active boulder falls include boulder trails with impact marks from bouncing and rolling, and dark patches from boulder impacts away from the base of the crater walls. We were able to define three time periods with active boulder falls and additional slope streak formation, for which we refined the most significant activity to a time period between January 2012 and March 2013. A search of 236 images within 500 km of the study site identified two further sites with similar, but reduced, activity during the same time period. We discuss plausible mechanisms for the boulder fall activity, and conclude that the local geology and crater age is likely to be of significant importance. Our method of identifying and highlighting such activity will allow further studies of active surface processes on Mars.https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094817Marsboulder fallactive |
| spellingShingle | Peter M. Grindrod Joel M. Davis Susan J. Conway Tjalling deHaas Active Boulder Falls in Terra Sirenum, Mars: Constraints on Timing and Causes Geophysical Research Letters Mars boulder fall active |
| title | Active Boulder Falls in Terra Sirenum, Mars: Constraints on Timing and Causes |
| title_full | Active Boulder Falls in Terra Sirenum, Mars: Constraints on Timing and Causes |
| title_fullStr | Active Boulder Falls in Terra Sirenum, Mars: Constraints on Timing and Causes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Active Boulder Falls in Terra Sirenum, Mars: Constraints on Timing and Causes |
| title_short | Active Boulder Falls in Terra Sirenum, Mars: Constraints on Timing and Causes |
| title_sort | active boulder falls in terra sirenum mars constraints on timing and causes |
| topic | Mars boulder fall active |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094817 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT petermgrindrod activeboulderfallsinterrasirenummarsconstraintsontimingandcauses AT joelmdavis activeboulderfallsinterrasirenummarsconstraintsontimingandcauses AT susanjconway activeboulderfallsinterrasirenummarsconstraintsontimingandcauses AT tjallingdehaas activeboulderfallsinterrasirenummarsconstraintsontimingandcauses |