ESA title
Phlegra Montes on Mars
Science & Exploration

Mountains and buried ice on Mars

02/12/2011 5821 views 15 likes
ESA / Science & Exploration / Space Science / Mars Express

New images from Mars Express show the Phlegra Montes mountain range, in a region where radar probing indicates large volumes of water ice are hiding below. This could be a source of water for future astronauts.

Phlegra Montes is a range of gently curving mountains and ridges on Mars. It extends from the northeastern portion of the Elysium volcanic province to the northern lowlands, spanning latitudes from roughly 30°N to 50°N.

The mountains themselves are probably not volcanic in origin, but have been raised by ancient tectonic forces that squeezed different regions of the surface together.

New images from the high-resolution stereo camera on ESA’s Mars Express orbiter allow a closer inspection and show that almost every mountain is surrounded by ‘lobate debris aprons’ – curved features typically observed around plateaus and mountains at these latitudes.

Previous studies have shown that this material appears to have moved down the mountain slopes over time, and looks similar to the debris found covering glaciers here on Earth.

The suggestion then is that there may be glaciers buried just below the surface in this region.

Phlegra Montes in context
Phlegra Montes in context

This interpretation is backed up by the radar on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter looking beneath the martian surface.

The radar shows that lobate debris aprons are indeed strongly associated with the presence of water ice, perhaps only 20 m down.

Further evidence for relatively recent glaciation can be seen inside impact craters in the region. Series of ridges are thought to have developed when the ancient craters filled with snow. Over time, the snow compacted to form glaciers which then sculpted the crater floors.

There are yet more glacial flow patterns visible in the valley at the centre of the image.

It is believed that mid-latitude glaciers developed at various times in the last several hundred million years, when the polar axis of Mars was significantly different from today, leading to quite different climatic conditions.

All of this points to plentiful water ice just below the surface in Phlegra Montes. If this proves to be true, such ice fields could provide future astronauts with a source of water on the Red Planet.

Phlegra Montes
Phlegra Montes
Phlegra Montes in elevation
Phlegra Montes in elevation
Phlegra Montes in high resolution
Phlegra Montes in high resolution
Phlegra Montes in perspective
Phlegra Montes in perspective
Phlegra Montes in perspective
Phlegra Montes in perspective
Phlegra Montes in 3D
Phlegra Montes in 3D

Related Links

Pit-chains in Tharsis
Science & Exploration

The pit-chains of Mars – a possible place for life?

05/04/2012 6623 views 16 likes
Read
Ancient northern ocean on Mars
Science & Exploration

ESA's Mars Express radar gives strong evidence for former M…

06/02/2012 8706 views 10 likes
Read
Part of Syrtis Major
Science & Exploration

Mars Express reveals wind-blown deposits on Mars

03/02/2012 3525 views 6 likes
Read
Phlegra Montes on Mars
Science & Exploration

Mountains and buried ice on Mars

02/12/2011 5821 views 15 likes
Read
Battered volcano Tharsis Tholus
Science & Exploration

Battered Tharsis Tholus volcano on Mars

08/11/2011 4923 views 7 likes
Read
Oraibi crater in Ares Vallis
Science & Exploration

Mars Express observes clusters of recent craters in Ares Va…

07/10/2011 2842 views 6 likes
Read
Holden and Eberswalde craters
Science & Exploration

Rare martian lake delta spotted by Mars Express

02/09/2011 7768 views 24 likes
Read
Mars’ northern polar regions
Science & Exploration

Mars’ northern polar regions in transition

05/08/2011 5668 views 12 likes
Read
Conjunction: before, during and after
Science & Exploration

Phobos slips past Jupiter

17/06/2011 5649 views 15 likes
Read
Springtime at Mars’ south pole
Science & Exploration

Springtime at Mars’ south pole

07/06/2011 5138 views 11 likes
Read
Deep fractures on Mars
Science & Exploration

Mars Express sees deep fractures on Mars

06/05/2011 4022 views 8 likes
Read
Neighbouring volcanoes on Mars
Science & Exploration

Neighbouring volcanoes on Mars

01/04/2011 4742 views 11 likes
Read
Elongated crater on Mars
Science & Exploration

The scars of impacts on Mars

04/03/2011 5915 views 7 likes
Read
Arabia Terra on Mars
Science & Exploration

Mars Express puts craters on a pedestal

04/02/2011 3322 views 3 likes
Read
Stereo-1 channel image of Phobos
Science & Exploration

Mars Express close flybys of martian moon Phobos

21/01/2011 10629 views 14 likes
Read
Schiaparelli on Mars
Science & Exploration

Wind and water have shaped Schiaparelli on Mars

10/12/2010 7458 views 13 likes
Read
Phoenicis Lacus on Mars
Science & Exploration

Light and dark in the Phoenix Lake

12/11/2010 2890 views 6 likes
Read
Melas Chasma on Mars
Science & Exploration

Mars: how low can you go?

08/10/2010 3704 views 5 likes
Read
Orcus Patera on Mars
Science & Exploration

Mars’s mysterious elongated crater

27/08/2010 9581 views 24 likes
Read
Magellan Crater on Mars
Science & Exploration

Rocky mounds and a plateau on Mars

28/06/2010 3757 views 8 likes
Read
Science & Exploration

Wet era on early Mars was global

25/06/2010 2997 views 5 likes
Read
Volcanic ash deposits in Meridiani Planum
Science & Exploration

Volcanic ash in Meridiani Planum

12/05/2010 5168 views 10 likes
Read
Part of the Sirenum Fossae region in the Southern Highlands of Mars.
Science & Exploration

Craters young and old in Sirenum Fossae

03/02/2010 3780 views 8 likes
Read
Close to Ma'adim Vallis
Science & Exploration

Craters, lava flows and tectonic features near Ma'adim Vall…

24/07/2009 3792 views 5 likes
Read
Impacts and floods
Science & Exploration

Craters and channels in Hephaestus Fossae

05/06/2009 5434 views 10 likes
Read
Ariadnes Colles, nadir view
Science & Exploration

Chaotic terrain in Ariadnes Colles

24/04/2009 3150 views 17 likes
Read
Rupes Tenuis
Science & Exploration

Ice-covered martian North Pole

06/03/2009 2977 views 7 likes
Read
Euminedes Dorsum
Science & Exploration

The Euminedes Dorsum mountains on Mars

28/11/2008 2902 views 7 likes
Read
Mangala Fossae
Science & Exploration

Lava deposits in Mangala Fossae

26/09/2008 2936 views 9 likes
Read

Related Links