Recent bright gully deposits on Mars: Wet or dry flow?

Abstract

Research Article| March 01, 2008 Recent bright gully deposits on Mars: Wet or dry flow? Jon D. Pelletier; Jon D. Pelletier 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kelly J. Kolb; Kelly J. Kolb 2Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alfred S. McEwen; Alfred S. McEwen 2Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Randy L. Kirk Randy L. Kirk 3United States Geological Survey, Astrogeology Program, 2255 N Gemini Drive, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2008) 36 (3): 211–214. https://doi.org/10.1130/G24346A.1 Article history received: 07 Aug 2007 rev-recd: 02 Nov 2007 accepted: 06 Nov 2007 first online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Jon D. Pelletier, Kelly J. Kolb, Alfred S. McEwen, Randy L. Kirk; Recent bright gully deposits on Mars: Wet or dry flow?. Geology 2008;; 36 (3): 211–214. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G24346A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Bright gully sediments attributed to liquid water flow have been deposited on Mars within the past several years. To test the liquid water flow hypothesis, we constructed a high-resolution (1 m/pixel) photogrammetric digital elevation model of a crater in the Centauri Montes region, where a bright gully deposit formed between 2001 and 2005. We conducted one-dimensional (1-D) and 2-D numerical flow modeling to test whether the deposit morphology is most consistent with liquid water or dry granular flow. Liquid water flow models that incorporate freezing can match the runout distance of the flow for certain freezing rates but fail to reconstruct the distributary lobe morphology of the distal end of the deposit. Dry granular flow models can match both the observed runout distance and the distal morphology. Wet debris flows with high sediment concentrations are also consistent with the observed morphology because their rheologies are often similar to that of dry granular flows. As such, the presence of liquid water in this flow event cannot be ruled out, but the available evidence is consistent with dry landsliding. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.