Outflow channels

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An river-bed-like outflow channel originating from Iani Chaos (bottom right) extends towards the top of this image.

There are two major classes of channel on Mars: 1) the large valley networks, which generally formed early in the history of the planet; and 2) the outflow channels, which formed more recently and lack the dendritic nature of the valley networks.

The outflow channels of Mars are large drainage systems that generally head in regions of topographic disturbance and extend downslope for up to several thousand kilometers. The largest of the outflow channels are found in the circum-Chryse region.

[edit] References

• Baker, V.R., Carr, M.C., Gulick, V.C., Williams, C.R., Marley, M.S., 1992. Channels and valley networks. In "Mars" (edited by Kieffer, Jakosky, Snyder, Matthews), University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 493-522.

[edit] See also

• Geology of Mars
• Geography of Mars

[edit] Further reading

• Jeffrey Stuart Kargel (2004). Mars: A Warmer, Wetter Planet. Springer. ISBN 1852335688. 
• Mars Express images of Kasei Valles, a large outflow channel system

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