A COMPARISON AND ANALOG-BASED ANALYSIS OF SINUOUS CHANNELS ON THE RIFT APRONS OF ASCRAEUS MONS AND PAVONIS MONS VOLCANOES. MARS

摘要

The origin of sinuous channels on the flanks of the Tharsis volcanoes on Mars is debated among planetary scientists. Some argue a volcanic genesis (Bleacher et al., 2010) while others have suggested a fluvial basis (Murray et al., 2010; Mouginis-Mark and Christensen, 2005). The majority of the studies thus far have focused on channels on the rift apron of Ascraeus Mons. Here, I broadly examine the channels on the rift apron of Pavonis Mons and compare them with those studied channels around Ascraeus. I compare the morphologies of features from both of these volcanoes with similar features of known volcanic origin oh the island of Hawai'i.