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Detailed Reference Information |
Musselwhite, D.S., Swindle, T.D. and Lunine, J.I. (2001). Liquid CO2 breakout and the formation of recent small gullies on Mars. Geophysical Research Letters 28: doi: 10.1029/2000GL012496. issn: 0094-8276. |
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We show that the action of a CO2 suspended flow could have produced the recent small gullies on Mars, and, hence, that liquid water is not required. The model involves the build-up of a liquid-CO2 aquifer behind and below a dry-ice barrier (dam/cap rock) in the pore spaces a few meters into the rock from the cliff face and on order of a hundred meters below the top of the cliff brink surface. Seasonal (or obliquity-cycle-seasonal) heating causes pinching out of the dry-ice barrier and rapid release of the liquid CO2. Erosion of the gullies occurs as the rapid vaporization of the liquid CO2 with entrainment of rock and clathrate-hydrate ice produces a density flow analogous to a terrestrial nue ardente. Âż 2001 American Geophysical Union |
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Abstract |
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Keywords
Planetology, Solid Surface Planets, Atmospheres—composition and chemistry, Planetology, Solid Surface Planets, Composition, Planetology, Solid Surface Planets, Erosion and weathering, Planetology, Solar System Objects, Mars |
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Publisher
American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-1277 USA 1-202-462-6900 1-202-328-0566 service@agu.org |
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