ORIGIN OF SINUOUS CHANNELS ON THE SW APRON OF ASCRAEUS MONS AND THE SURROUNDING PLAINS, MARS

摘要

INTRODUCTION Ascraeus Mons is one of three large shield volcanoes, collectively known as the Tharsis Montes, located along a NE-SW trending lineament atop the Tharsis Bulge on Mars. Ascraeus is the northernmost, largest, and presumably the youngest of the Tharsis Montes, with an edifice that measures 375 × 870 km and rises nearly 15 km above the surrounding plains (Plescia 2004). The main flank has been active throughout much of Mars' geologic history yet some of the summit calderas show signs of activity as recently as 60 Ma (Robbins et al., 2011).