1. Interweaving recurring slope lineae on Mars: Do they support a wet hypothesis?
- Author
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Mason, Daniel P. and Scuderi, Louis A.
- Subjects
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GEOMORPHOLOGY , *LOCAL history , *MARTIAN meteorites , *GEOLOGY , *MARTIAN surface , *EXTRATERRESTRIAL beings , *HYPOTHESIS - Abstract
Recurring slope lineae (RSL) displaying interweaving morphologies are a relatively unstudied Martian geomorphologic feature. This study provides a geomorphic context for the interweaving pattern seen in some candidate RSL, using Raga Crater as a case study, and includes evidence of these forms in Lohse, Tivat, and Rauna Craters. Analysis in Raga Crater shows that a minority of recurring slope lineae express an interweaving morphology, and an even smaller minority of channels display sinuosity. Despite this, we propose that aqueous systems, in contrast to wholly dry hillslope processes, are much more likely to exhibit these interweaving morphologies, and that this morphology therefore suggests either a contemporary aqueous formation mechanism, or a previous history of local aqueous activity leading to present-day channelization and lending itself to a contemporary dry formation mechanism caused by sediment flowing down sinuous sub-resolution channels. Evidence of either contemporary aqueous processes or past aqueous processes leading to contemporary channelized flows occurring on the Martian surface would reframe the context in which Martian geomorphology is studied, while simultaneously providing insight into contemporary extraterrestrial surficial geology. • Recurring slope lineae (RSL) are an enigmatic feature on the Martian surface whose formative processes remain unknown. • A subset of RSL in Raga, Lohse, Tivat, and Rauna Craters have multiple channels that exhibit interweaving tendencies. • Several of the catalogued RSL channels were determined to be sinuous. • Interweaving and sinuosity may indicate either aqueous processes or the occurrence of sub-resolution channelization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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