Despite the fact that the crustal load is likely responsible for most of the Martian sub-crustal stress, the signature of polar ice load is missing. A possible explanation of this AG-337 finding was given by Neumann et al. (2004). They suggested that the polar ice caps on Mars are geologically relatively young, while the isostatic adjustment to a changing load takes place over time scales of 105–107 yrs105–107 yrs (Johnson et al., 2000).
The geomorphological features of Valles Marineris and its specific stress distribution are likely explained by a regional tectonism, which is related to a crustal load of the Tharsis Bulge. This is in agreement with more recent theories of the Valles Marineris formation attributed to either tensional fracturing (Tanaka and Golombek, 1989) or regional extensional tectonism (Banerdt et al., 1992). A better understanding of the processes which formed Valles Marineris is, however, still open to investigation.
AcknowledgmentsThe MOLA topographic data and the MRO110B2 gravity model used in ice age study are made available through the Geosciences Node of NASA\'s Planetary Data System archives (http://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu).
The geomorphological features of Valles Marineris and its specific stress distribution are likely explained by a regional tectonism, which is related to a crustal load of the Tharsis Bulge. This is in agreement with more recent theories of the Valles Marineris formation attributed to either tensional fracturing (Tanaka and Golombek, 1989) or regional extensional tectonism (Banerdt et al., 1992). A better understanding of the processes which formed Valles Marineris is, however, still open to investigation.
AcknowledgmentsThe MOLA topographic data and the MRO110B2 gravity model used in ice age study are made available through the Geosciences Node of NASA\'s Planetary Data System archives (http://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu).