Mangala Valles Explained

Mangala Valles
Coordinates:	-11.6°N -151°W
Length:	828.0 km

The Mangala Valles are a complex system of criss-crossing channels on Mars, located in the Tharsis region and in the Memnonia quadrangle. They originated in the Hesperian and Amazonian epochs. They are thought to be an outflow channel system, carved by catastrophic floods, and the release of vast quantities of water across the Martian surface. This flooding was probably initiated by tectonic stretching and the formation of a graben, Mangala Fossa, at the channels' head, perhaps breaching a pressurized aquifer trapped beneath a thick "cryosphere" (layer of frozen ground) beneath the surface.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]} The Mangala Valles contain several basins; after they filled, the overflow went through a series of spillways.^{[8] [9]} One source of waters for the system was the Memonia Fossae, but water also probably came from a large basin centered at 40 degrees S.^{[10] [11]}

A recent study that used photogeologic analysis, geomorphic surface mapping, cratering statistics, and relative stratigraphy, demonstrated that the Mangala Valles were flooded by water at least twice and covered with lava at least three times during the Late Amazonian.^[12] The presence of scoured bedrock at the base of the mapped stratigraphy, together with evidence from crater retention ages, suggests that fluvial activity came before lava flows. These alternating periods of aqueous flooding and volcanism are similar to that of other outflow systems on Mars, such as Ravi Vallis and the Kasei Valles.^[13]

There are wind-sculpted ridges, or yardangs, covering many of the surfaces in the Mangala Valles region.^{[14] [15]}

"Mangala" is the name for Mars in Jyotish (or Hindu) astrology.

In fiction

• The Mangala Valles are referred to in Michael Crichton's book Sphere.
• In Stephen Baxter's novel Voyage, they are the location of the first crewed Mars landing.
• They are mentioned in Terry Pratchett's and Stephen Baxter's novel The Long Mars.
• They are also the location of the first crewed Mars base in Book: Codex Regius . 1999 . Horsemen of Mars. 978-1499274578 .

See also

• Graben
• Memnonia quadrangle
• Outburst flood
• Outflow channels

External links

• Lunar and Planetary Institute

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mars Channels and Valleys. Msss.com. 13 January 2015.
2. Book: Michael H. Carr. The surface of Mars. 21 March 2011. 2006. Cambridge University Press. 978-0-521-87201-0.
3. Carr, M. 1979. Formation of martian flood features by release of water from confined aquifers. Journal of Geophysical Research 84: 2995-3007.
4. Hanna, J. and R. Phillips. 2005. Tectonic pressurization of aquifers in the formation of Mangala and Athabasca Valles on Mars. LPSC XXXVI. Abstract 2261.
5. Web site: Ghatan . Gil J. . Head . James W. . Wilson . L. . Leask . H.J. . Mangala Valles, Mars: Investigations of the Source of Flood Water and Early Stages of Flooding - Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV (2004) . 2004 . . 6 December 2015 .
6. Leask . Harald J. . Wilson . Lionel . Mitchell . Karl L.. 14798124 . Formation of Mangala Fossa, the source of the Mangala Valles, Mars: Morphological development as a result of volcano-cryosphere interactions . 24 February 2007 . . 112 . E02011 . E02011. 10.1029/2005JE002644 . 2007JGRE..112.2011L . free .
7. Leask . Harald J. . Wilson . Lionel . Mitchell . Karl L.. Formation of Mangala Valles outflow channel, Mars: Morphological development and water discharge and duration estimates . 4 August 2007 . . 112 . E08003 . E08003. 10.1029/2006JE002851 . 2007JGRE..112.8003L . free .
8. Cabrol, N. and E. Grin (eds.). 2010. Lakes on Mars. Elsevier. NY.
9. Emrick, C. and R. De Hon. 1999. Flood discharge through Labou Vallis, Mars. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. XXX: Abstract #1893.
10. Zimbelman, J. et al. 1992. Volatile history of Mangala Valles, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research 97: 18309-18317
11. De Hon, R. 1994. Lacustrine sedimentation in lower Mangals Valles. Mars Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. XXVII: 295-296
12. Keske. Amber L.. Hamilton. Christopher W.. McEwen. Alfred S.. Daubar. Ingrid J.. Episodes of fluvial and volcanic activity in Mangala Valles, Mars. Icarus. 2015. 245. 333–347. 2015Icar..245..333K. 10.1016/j.icarus.2014.09.040. 29176911. 5701667.
13. Leask . Harald J. . Wilson . Lionel . Mitchell . Karl L. . Formation of Ravi Vallis outflow channel, Mars: Morphological development, water discharge, and duration estimates . 13 June 2006 . . 111 . E8 . E08070 . 10.1029/2005JE002550 . 2006JGRE..111.8070L . free .
14. Web site: Catalog Page for PIA03827. Photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov. 13 January 2015.
15. Web site: The Planet Mars: A History of Observation and Discovery. Uapress.arizona.edu. 13 January 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141004105217/http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/onlinebks/MARS/CHAP12.HTM. 4 October 2014.