Lectures 12-14

Question 1

Hemispheric Dichotomy

Answer 1

Elevation difference separates the northern lowlands from southern highlands

Question 2

L-sub-S

Answer 2

Solar longitude. The main way of measuring the time of year on Mars, since the Mars year is longer than an Earth year

Question 3

Patterned ground

Answer 3

Distinctive geometric patterns caused by freeze-thaw processes. Evidence for ground ice on Mars

Question 4

Eolian features observed on Mars today

Answer 4

Dust storms, yardangs, dunes, and dust devils

Question 5

Yardangs

Answer 5

Linear ridges formed by eolian erosion of intervening valleys

Question 6

Mass Movement

Answer 6

Gravity-driven downhill movement of unconsolidated material.
Large-scale: enlargement canyons, development of chaotic terrain
Small-scale: gullies (aka streak slopes), Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL)

Question 7

Three main lines of evidence that the SNC meteorites are from Mars

Answer 7

• trapped atmospheric gases
• young crystallization ages
• oxygen isotopes

Question 8

What is Olympus Mons and where is it?

Answer 8

The largest volcano in the Solar System. Found on Mars in the Tharsis region

Question 9

Geophysics of Mars

Answer 9

The density of Mars suggests that the core contains significant amounts of sulfur

Question 10

Rampart craters

Answer 10

Are formed by impact on Mars, where there was ground ice present

Question 11

Formation model for Valles Marineris

Answer 11

Radial fracturing from the Tharsis uplift, followed by widening due to mass movement