JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo
Image

Hydrologic Modeling of Relatively Recent Martian Streams and Lake

Sept. 15, 2016
This map of an area within the Arabia Terra region on Mars shows where hydrologic modeling predicts locations of depressions that would have been lakes (black), overlaid with a map of the preserved valleys (blue lines) that would have been streams.
Context Image
Context image for PIA20839
Context Image
Context image for PIA20839

This map of an area within the Arabia Terra region on Mars shows where hydrologic modeling predicts locations of depressions that would have been lakes (black), overlaid with a map of the preserved valleys (blue lines, with width exaggerated for recognition) that would have been streams.

The area today holds numerous features called "fresh shallow valleys." Research findings in 2016 interpret the fresh shallow valleys as evidence for flows of liquid water that occurred several hundred million years -- up to about a billion years -- after the ancient lakes and streams previously documented on Mars.

Most of the fresh shallow valleys in this northern portion of Arabia Terra terminate at the margins of model-predicted submerged basins, consistent with an interpretation of flows into lakes and out of lakes. Some valley segments connect to form longer systems, consistent with connections forged by flowing water between interspersed lakes. In the area mapped here, for example, valleys connect basin "A" to basin "B," and basin B to "Heart Lake," each lower in elevation in that chain. Detail of the valley interpreted as the northward outflow channel from basin B can be seen in the image at PIA20837. Relative topography of the region is mapped at PIA20838.

The area covered by this hydrologic-model map is about 120 miles (about 190 kilometers) wide, centered near 35.91 degrees north latitude, 1 degree east longitude.

Download JPG
Download TIFF
Mission
Target
  • Mars
Spacecraft
  • Mars Global Surveyor Orbiter
  • 2001 Mars Odyssey
Instrument
  • Thermal Emission Imaging System
  • Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter
Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

Keep Exploring

Ceti Mensa - Western Candor Chasma

Labeatis Fossae

Olympus Rupes

Hypanis Valles

Olympica Fossae

Aeolis Planum

Shalbatana Vallis

Four Images of Morning Frost on Mars

Clasia Vallis

Making Squares

Related Topic

Mars .

Media Telecon Materials - May 17, 2022

News .

NASA to Provide Update on InSight Mars Lander

News .

NASA’s InSight Records Monster Quake on Mars

News .

Science at Sunrise: Solving the Mystery of Frost Hiding on Mars

News .

NASA’s Mars Helicopter Scouts Ridgeline for Perseverance Science Team

News .

NASA’s Mars Helicopter Spots Gear That Helped Perseverance Rover Land

News .

NASA Extends Exploration for 8 Planetary Science Missions

News .

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Captures Video of Solar Eclipse on Mars

News .

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Arrives at Delta for New Science Campaign

Video .

NASA’s Self-Driving Perseverance Mars Rover Is Breaking Records

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors
Careers
Internships
The JPL Story
JPL Achievements
Documentary Series
Annual Reports
Missions
Current
Past
Future
All
News
All
Earth
Solar System
Stars and Galaxies
Subscribe to JPL News
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Apps
Visions of the Future
Slice of History
Robotics at JPL
Events
Lecture Series
Team Competitions
Speakers Bureau
Calendar
Visit
Public Tours
Virtual Tour
Topics
JPL Life
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Exoplanets
Stars and Galaxies
Robotics
More
Asteroid Watch
NASA's Eyes Visualizations
Universe - Internal Newsletter
Social Media
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Managers: Veronica McGregor, Randal Jackson
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Naomi Hartono