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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology pp 1Cite as

Valley Networks

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Synonyms

Channels; Riverbeds

Definition

Assemblage of small- to medium-scale channels, usually acting as pathways for rivers on planetary bodies. In addition to Earth, valley networks have been identified on Mars and Titan. Depending on the liquid-release mechanism, these networks can have a dendritic or longitudinal pattern corresponding to surface runoff or groundwater release, respectively. Whereas terrestrial and Martian valley networks are known to be fed by water, Titan’s networks are supposed to be fed by liquid methane. Martian valley networks are not filled with water today and thus represent paleo-riverbeds resembling terrestrial wadis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. German Aerospace Center DLR, Institute of Planetary Research, Berlin, Germany

    Daniela Tirsch

Authors
  1. Daniela Tirsch
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniela Tirsch .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Cite this entry

Tirsch, D. (2014). Valley Networks. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1644-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1644-4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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