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.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this entry
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
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1644-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
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