Category:Upper plains unit on Mars
The upper plains unit on Mars is a unit that was probably formed from mantle deposits in the past. It is the remnants of a 50-100 meter thick mantling that has been discovered in the mid-latitudes of the planet Mars. It was first investigated in the Deuteronilus Mensae (Ismenius Lacus quadrangle) region, but it occurs in other places as well. The remnants consist of sets of dipping layers in impact craters, in depressions, and along mesas. Sets of dipping layers may be of various sizes and shapes—some look like Aztec pyramids from Central America. This unit also degrades into brain terrain. Brain terrain is a region of maze-like ridges 3–5 meters high. Some ridges may consist of an ice core, so they may be sources of water for future colonists. Some regions of the upper plains unit display large fractures and troughs with raised rims; such regions are called ribbed upper plains. Fractures are believed to have started with small cracks from stresses. Stress is suggested to initiate the fracture process since ribbed upper plains are common when debris aprons come together or near the edge of debris aprons—such sites would generate compressional stresses. Cracks exposed more surfaces, and consequently more ice in the material sublimates into the planet’s thin atmosphere. Eventually, small cracks become large canyons or troughs.
Media in category "Upper plains unit on Mars"
The following 17 files are in this category, out of 17 total.
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44229 2235brainsforming.jpg 1,861 × 930; 616 KB
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44229 2235brainsupper.jpg 1,861 × 930; 651 KB
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45349 2235brainsforming2.jpg 1,861 × 930; 429 KB
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45349 2235brainsforming3.jpg 1,861 × 930; 508 KB
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46075 2200brainsforming.jpg 1,861 × 930; 546 KB
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46325 2225hollowsclose2.jpg 1,861 × 930; 652 KB
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46325 2225ridges.jpg 1,861 × 930; 607 KB
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48011 1370upperunit.jpg 1,861 × 930; 725 KB
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48184 1470moundsbrains.jpg 1,861 × 930; 613 KB
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48870 2250contact.jpg 1,861 × 930; 616 KB
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48870 2250contactclose.jpg 1,861 × 930; 445 KB
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ESP 028339 2245headarticle.jpg 1,890 × 847; 437 KB
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ESP 046325 2225hollowa.jpg 2,048 × 4,974; 3.25 MB
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ESP 046365 2245middle.jpg 1,882 × 840; 531 KB
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ESP 048011 1370upperunit.jpg 2,048 × 3,808; 2.22 MB
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ESP 048184 1470moundsbrains.jpg 2,048 × 2,352; 1.28 MB
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ESP 048870 2250contact.jpg 2,048 × 3,673; 1.96 MB