McMurdo (crater)

McMurdo Crater

Close-up of Layers in wall of McMurdo Crater, as seen by HiRISE.
Planet Mars
Coordinates 84°24′S 359°06′W / 84.4°S 359.1°W / -84.4; -359.1Coordinates: 84°24′S 359°06′W / 84.4°S 359.1°W / -84.4; -359.1
Eponym McMurdo Station, Antarctica

McMurdo Crater is a crater in the Mare Australe quadrangle of Mars, located at 84.4° S and 359.1° W. It is 30.3 km in diameter and was named after McMurdo Station in Antarctica.[1] Many layers are visible in the south wall of the crater. Many places on Mars show rocks arranged in layers. Rock can form layers in a variety of ways. Volcanoes, wind, or water can produce layers.[2] A detailed discussion of layering with many Martian examples can be found in Sedimentary Geology of Mars.[3] Just to the south of McMurdo is a field of numerous short, dark streaks or fans. These are caused by the outgassing of carbon dioxide in the spring when the temperature is rising. The carbon dioxide gas carries with it dark particles. If a wind is blowing at the time, the plume of material is spread to one side forming a streak or a fan; these features have been called spiders because at times they look spiders with many legs.[4][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Both layers and fans are shown in the pictures below.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Blue, Jennifer. "McMurdo (crater)". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
  2. ↑ "HiRISE | High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment" Check |url= value (help). Hirise.lpl.arizona.edu?psp_008437_1750. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  3. ↑ Grotzinger, J. and R. Milliken (eds.). 2012. Sedimentary Geology of Mars. SEPM.
  4. 1 2 Manrubia, S. C.; O. Prieto Ballesteros; C. González Kessler; D. Fernández Remolar; C. Córdoba-Jabonero; F. Selsis; S. Bérczi; T. Gánti; A. Horváth; A. Sik; E. Szathmáry (2004). "Comparative Analysis of Geological Features and Seasonal Processes in Inca City and PittyUSA Patera Regions on Mars" (PDF). European Space Agency Publications (ESA SP): 545.
  5. ↑ Kieffer, H. H. (2000). "Mars Polar Science 2000 - Annual Punctuated CO2 Slab-ice and Jets on Mars" (PDF). Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  6. ↑ Kieffer, Hugh H. (2003). "Third Mars Polar Science Conference (2003)- Behavior of Solid CO" (PDF). Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  7. ↑ Portyankina, G., ed. (2006). "Fourth Mars Polar Science Conference - Simulations of Geyser-Type Eruptions in Cryptic Region of Martian South" (PDF). Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  8. ↑ Sz. Bérczi; et al., eds. (2004). "Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV (2004) - Stratigraphy of Special Layers – Transient Oones on Permeable Ones: Examples" (PDF). Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  9. ↑ "NASA Findings Suggest Jets Bursting From Martian Ice Cap". Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA). 16 August 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  10. ↑ C.J. Hansen; N. Thomas; G. Portyankina; A. McEwen; T. Becker; S. Byrne; K. Herkenhoff; H. Kieffer; M. Mellon (2010). "HiRISE observations of gas sublimation-driven activity in Mars’ southern polar regions: I. Erosion of the surface" (PDF). Icarus 205: 283–295. Bibcode:2010Icar..205..283H. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2009.07.021. Retrieved 26 July 2010.


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