Valley networks on Mars formed during long period of episodic flooding

User rating: 4.6 / 5 after 14 vote(s)

Ancient river-like features called valley networks carve the surface of Mars as seen in the image above of the Parana Valles which cuts across a region roughly the size of California. The images below show results from computer models used to simulat ...
Ancient river-like features called valley networks carve the surface of Mars, as seen in the image above of the Parana Valles, which cuts across a region roughly the size of California. The images below show results from computer models used to simulate erosion of the valleys under different climate scenarios.
Click here to enlarge image

(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study suggests that ancient features on the surface of Mars called valley networks were carved by recurrent floods during a long period when the martian climate may have been much like that of some arid or semiarid regions on Earth. An alternative theory that the valleys were carved by catastrophic flooding over a relatively short time is not supported by the new results.


Full story »
All News summaries from Space & Earth science news
All News summaries for September 08, 2008

NASA Invites Students to Name New Mars Rover

Nov 18, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA is looking for the right stuff, or in this case, the right name for the next Mars rover. NASA, in cooperation with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures' movie WALL-E from Pixar Animation ...

Astronaut outside space station loses tool bag

Nov 18, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(AP) -- A spacewalking astronaut whose grease gun erupted in a backpack-sized tool bag accidentally let go of the tote outside the international space station Tuesday, and it floated off along with everything ...

Calif. utilities must use 33 percent renewable energy for power generation by 2020

Nov 18, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
California utilities, already struggling to meet a law requiring more renewable energy, saw the bar raised even higher Monday.

Global warming predictions are overestimated, suggests study on black carbon

Nov 18, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(PhysOrg.com) -- A detailed analysis of black carbon -- the residue of burned organic matter -- in computer climate models suggests that those models may be overestimating global warming predictions.

Scientists discover new planet orbiting dangerously close to giant star

Nov 18, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
A team of astronomers from Penn State and Nicolaus Copernicus University in Poland has discovered a new planet that is closely orbiting a red-giant star, HD 102272, which is much older than our own Sun. The ...
Goto Archive PhysOrg Forum Goto Archive Video Goto Archive Editorials Goto Archive Free Magazines Goto Archive Newsletter

News Archive