Deformation rates from faulting at the Tempe Terra extensional province, Mars

Abstract

Rates of deformation are estimated from exposed normal faults within the Tempe Terra extensional province, Mars, through an analysis that incorporates fault segment linkage and utilizes regional observations of displacement‐length relationships measured from Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter topographic data. Moment rates (from 1014–1016 N‐m/yr), strain rates (10−12–10−11 yr−1) and rifting velocities (∼0.003 mm/yr) are comparable to rates of deformation on stable plate interiors of Earth. The calculated low rates of rifting may result from the poorly constrained timing of deformation on Mars. Cumulative moment release estimates decrease linearly with time from Noachian (∼1 × 1025 N‐m) to Early Hesperian (∼6 × 1024 N‐m) and Late Hesperian‐Early Amazonian (∼1 × 1024). These results indicate that a portion of Tharsis‐related deformation remained localized within the Tempe Rift throughout much of Martian history, and provide important constraints for models of Martian mantle convection.