Water at the Poles and in Permafrost Regions of Mars

Abstract

Research Article| June 01, 2006 Water at the Poles and in Permafrost Regions of Mars Philip R. Christensen Philip R. Christensen 1Department of Geological Sciences Arizona State University Box 871404, Tempe, AZ 85287-1404, USA E-mail: phil.christensen@asu.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Philip R. Christensen 1Department of Geological Sciences Arizona State University Box 871404, Tempe, AZ 85287-1404, USA E-mail: phil.christensen@asu.edu Publisher: Mineralogical Society of America First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1811-5217 Print ISSN: 1811-5209 © 2006 by the Mineralogical Society of America Elements (2006) 2 (3): 151–155. https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.2.3.151 Article history First Online: 09 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 Philip R. Christensen; Water at the Poles and in Permafrost Regions of Mars. Elements 2006;; 2 (3): 151–155. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.2.3.151 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 SocietyElements Search Advanced Search Abstract The poles and mid-latitudes of Mars contain abundant water in ice caps, thick sequences of ice-rich layers, and mantles of snow. The volume of the known reservoir is ≥5 x 106 km3, corresponding to a layer ∼35 m thick over the planet. Hydrogen in subsurface H2O ice has been detected at latitudes poleward of 50°. Morphological features show downslope flow of ice-rich sediment, and recent gullies have been produced from subsurface aquifers or melting snowpacks. Variations in Mars' orbit on timescales of 50,000 to 2,000,000 years produce significant changes in climate, which result in the transport of water from the poles, where it currently resides, to the lower latitudes, where it may play a critical role in surface geology, mineralogy, and geochemistry. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.