Transient streams and gullies in the Antarctic Dry Valleys: Geological setting, processes and analogs to Mars

Mars Gully Analogs in the Antarctic Dry Valleys: Geological Setting and Processes

Introduction: Malin and Edgett [1,2] initially described a class of young features on Mars that they termed gullies, consisting of an alcove, a channel and a fan. Restricted to middle and high latitude locations, these features were interpreted to have originated through processes related to the presence of liquid water (through groundwater discharge); the potential presence of liquid water on ...

Gully Formation on Mars: Testing the Snowpack Hypothesis from Analysis of Analogs in the Antarctic Dry Valleys

Introduction: Gullies, a class of unusually young features on Mars consisting of an alcove, a channel and a fan, were initially interpreted to have originated through processes related to the presence of liquid water, primarily through groundwater discharge [1,2]; the current metastability of liquid water on the surface of Mars generated a host of alternative explanations for the gullies [see s...

Distribution of Gullies in the Mars-like Antarctic Dry Valleys: Relationship to Microclimate Zonation

Geologically recent gully–polygon relationships on Mars: Insights from the Antarctic Dry Valleys on the roles of permafrost, microclimates, and water sources for surface flow

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t We describe the morphology and spatial relationships between composite-wedge polygons and Mars-like gullies (consisting of alcoves, channels, and fans) in the hyper-arid Antarctic Dry Valleys (ADV), as a basis for understanding possible origins for martian gullies that also occur in association with polygonally patterned ground. Gullies in the ADV arise in ...

Recent Gully Activity on Mars: Clues from Late-stage Water Flow in Gully Systems and Channels in the Antarctic Dry Valleys

Introduction: One of the major surprises of the Mars Global Surveyor mission was the discovery of gullies, a class of unusually young features consisting of an alcove, a channel and a fan [1-2]. These features were interpreted to have originated through the flow of liquid water originating from groundwater discharge [1,2], although alternate interpretations have been presented [see 3]. Uncertai...