Toward understanding the history and mechanisms of Martian faulting: the contribution of gravitational potential energy

Dimitrova, L. L. and Holt, W. E. and Haines, A. J. and Schultz, R. A. (2006) Toward understanding the history and mechanisms of Martian faulting: the contribution of gravitational potential energy. Geophysical Research Letters, 33 (8). L08202, doi:10.1029/2005GL025307. DOI 10.1029/2005GL025307

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Abstract

Current stress solutions for Mars match the long wavelength signal of present day topography and gravity but fail to match many surface faults, including the normal faults in northern Claritas Fossae north to Tantalus and Alba Fossae. A deviatoric stress field associated with horizontal gradients of gravitational potential energy (GPE) provides an excellent fit, as measured by objective functions, to many of the normal faults in the western Martian hemisphere as well as wrinkle ridges circumferential to Tharsis; ~70% of the faults have a misfit ≤ 0.1. The fit of faults to the GPE-derived stress field reflects the thermal state of the planet at the times of faulting, and suggests that at such times elastic thicknesses and membrane stresses were small, and topography was supported by buoyancy forces.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	L08202
Uncontrolled Keywords:	2006 AREP 2006 P IA51
Subjects:	02 - Geodynamics, Geophysics and Tectonics
Divisions:	02 - Geodynamics, Geophysics and Tectonics
Journal or Publication Title:	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume:	33
Page Range:	L08202, doi:10.1029/2005GL025307
Identification Number:	10.1029/2005GL025307
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	16 Feb 2009 13:02
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2013 10:06
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/247

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