Mons Olympus, on Mars is the biggest volcano
that we can detect in our solar system, almost three times higher than
The other main force of weathering and erosion
is the wind that has created many dunes and interference ripples in pentagonal,
hexagonal and rectangular structures where winds have blown from two or three
different directions.
On Earth, when a volcano erupts, not only is ash
and magma ejected, but water vapour and carbon dioxide are the predominant
gases that are ejected in large volumes. Other gases ejected from Earth's
volcanoes include hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and
trioxide, ammonia, argon, methane, hydrochloric acid, nitrogen, oxygen, helium,
hydrogen, nitrogen oxide compounds and many other gases in trace amounts. It is
these gases and the interaction between the planet's surface chemistry that
creates the different atmospheres on differing planets and moons in our solar
system.
Mars has an atmosphere of mostly carbon dioxide,
trace, small amounts of nitrogen and argon with trace amounts of oxygen. Water
vapour at 0.03% seems to be the sixth most abundant gaseous element in the
atmosphere of Mars after carbon monoxide, which is number five.
So where is the water that is causing these large
scale erosion features on Mars? I believe whenever massive volcanic eruptions
occur, large amounts of water vapour, create temporary planet wide floods which
get absorbed into the surface of Mars or lost to space. Mars also has active
"wet" sand creep or mudflows that can be seen in many photos.
Some of the water is being lost to space as Mars
has a weaker surface gravity than that of Earth. The more dense or heavy the
gaseous molecules are, the more likely Mars is to hold them as an atmosphere by
its gravity. But what really gives me hope is the fact that the second most
abundant gas on Mars is nitrogen with a molecular weight of about 28 grams per
mole. This is relatively close to that of water vapor with a molecular weight
of about 18 grams per mole. Carbon monoxide also has a molecular weight of 28
grams per mole. Oxygen has a molecular weight of 32 grams per mole. Carbon
dioxide is heavier with a molecular weight of about 44 grams per mole and forms
the most abundant gas on Mars. Argon is the heaviest of the four most abundant
gases with a molecular weight of about 80 grams per mole. Hydrogen is extremely
light with a molecular weight of 2 grams per mole, so it cannot be held by the
gravity of Mars as an element, unless it is trapped by other compounds like
carbon to form methane or oxygen to form water. Methane, is found in trace
amounts in the Martian atmosphere. It has a molecular weight of 16 grams per
mole, so will be more easily lost to space than water vapour.
The attached photo above shows how rapid runoff
across at least a three stage directional joint and possible bedding controlled
topography has shaped the sand bars and small delta type fans in this Martian
crater. The really interesting point is that sandy areas along some of these
rocky channels have neither been destroyed by meteoric bombardment or by wind
erosion with time. They are pristine. That means they are very young. There is
active wind driven dune movement on Mars, from other photos taken by the Mars
orbiters over a period of a few years, yet no wind ripples can be seen here.
Therefore the last rain storms must have occurred in the very recent past,
perhaps the last few hundred years.
The sand is being deposited from the nearby
rocky mountainous area, and as this area is very steep and is an angular
jointed rocky topography, whose braided channels are heavily geologically
controlled, no sub surface water is causing these features. There can be no
standing water here as the gradient is too steep. The water, bringing the sand
has to have come from rain storms.
I can only suggest that large volumes of water,
carbon dioxide and methane are released periodically from within Mars into the
atmosphere via volcanic eruptions from
There is probably a cyclical pattern tied to
strong magnetic storms from the sun. Greater volcanic eruptions will be tied to
greater magnetic field induction correlation to the sun. These volcanic periods
should also correlate to the Earth's great magma flows and magnetic field
reversals. The sharpness of these scoured river channels, knowing that there is
active wind erosion taking place today, would suggest major rain storms within
the last few hundred years. So when the next really big planetary eruption
occurs, look forward to the next planetary flood. This theory best fits the
obvious river channels on Mars that are present, which have repeatedly eroded
the landscape, but have left us with no visible water.
The problem is, is that The Mars Magnetic Dynamo
has shut down (no magnetic field) and only when that heating mechanism restarts
can volcanism start up again. I think that
Weak lightning storms should be occurring on
Any suggestions for leveling or insulating the
volcanoes or restarting the Martian magnetic field? Perhaps some form of
diamagnetic insulation or antimagnetic carpeting?
Chris Landau (geologist)
February 7, 2012
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
2
1
1
