New analysis means that the colossal Olympus Mons volcano on Mars has morphological traits just like many lively volcanic islands on Earth, possible because of the interplay between lava and liquid water. (A pc-generated view of Olympus Mons.) Credit score: Dreksler Astral / Lowell Observatory
Analysis reveals that the Olympus Mons and Alba Mons volcanoes on Mars exhibit options just like Earth’s lively volcanic islands, possible indicating previous interplay between lava and liquid water. This helps the speculation {that a} huge ocean might have as soon as existed in Mars’ northern lowlands. Learning these volcanic rocks may present insights into Mars’ climatic evolution.
Think about a volcanic island in regards to the measurement of France and over 20,000 meters (65,000 toes) excessive. Such a panorama might as soon as have existed on the planet Mars.
Revealed within the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters on July 24, latest work led by a CNRS researcher reveals that the enormous Olympus Mons volcano on Mars shares morphological similarities with many lively volcanic islands on Earth. Scientists consider they’re the results of contact between liquid water and lava from the volcano.
Comparable options on the northern flank of the Alba Mons volcano, situated greater than 1,500 km (900 miles) from Olympus Mons, additionally assist the concept that an enormous ocean of liquid water as soon as occupied the Crimson Planet’s northern lowlands. Exact courting of those volcanic rocks may present a substantial quantity of details about the climatic evolution of Mars.
Olympus Mons: a volcanic island in the course of a vanished Martian ocean. Credit score: A.Hildenbrand/Geops/CNRS (Picture produced from MOLA public information)
Olympus Mons is a big protect volcano on the planet Mars. It’s the tallest volcano and the biggest protect volcano within the photo voltaic system. Standing at a powerful peak of about 13.6 miles (22 kilometers), Olympus Mons is almost thrice the peak of Mount Everest, which is the tallest mountain on Earth. Olympus Mons is about 370 miles (600 kilometers) in diameter, which is corresponding to the scale of the state of Arizona in the US.
The time period “protect volcano” is used to explain a kind of volcano that has shallow, broad slopes created by the eruption of low-viscosity lava that may move a fantastic distance earlier than cooling and hardening. The volcano will get its title from its measurement and form, which resembles a warrior’s protect.
The caldera (summit crater of the volcano) of Olympus Mons is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) vast and is made up of six overlapping pits or craters created by completely different volcanic occasions. These occasions occurred when magma chambers under the floor emptied out and the bottom above them collapsed.
Olympus Mons is situated within the Tharsis Montes area of Mars, which is residence to a number of different giant volcanoes. Its age is estimated to be about 200 million years, and proof from numerous Mars missions means that lava flowed from the volcano within the comparatively latest previous, geologically talking – about 2 million years in the past.
Reference: “A large volcanic island in an early Martian Ocean?” by A. Hildenbrand, H. Zeyen, F. Schmidt, S. Bouley, F. Costard, P.Y. Gillot, F.O. Marques, X. Quidelleur, 24 July 202, Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118302
