Martian Channels and Chaotic Terrain

Abstract

Several aspects of the origin of the equatorial canyons remain something of a puzzle to planetary geologists. However, it is clear that is some connection between canyon formation and the extensive collapsed regions which have been called chaotic terrain. These chaotic regions, largely concentrated in the equatorial regions between 10°N and 20°S, also seem to have spawned several major channel systems. For instance, at the eastern end of Valles Marineris, Hydraotes Chaos passes northward into Simud Vallis, while the lengthy Ares Vallis channel emerges from Iani Chaos (Fig. 10.1). Such channels pose some very important questions about Martian palaeoclimate.