Geomorphological Analysis of Mass Balances of Martian Valley Networks in Western Terra Sirenum

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a great deal of interest in Martian valley networks. Especially when [1] and how and among witch circumstances they have been formed [2] has been discussed up to now. On the whole, at what time Martian valley networks have been generated and that water might has been the forming agent is pretty certain now. A substantial amount of research by a lot of studies is published about that issue. However, a central question that needs to be addressed in this context is, how much water was required to create valley networks on early Mars. The intention of this study focuses on a geologic and geomorphological analysis of valley networks in the Western part of Terra Sirenum presenting calculations of discharge, transportation and erosion rates to improve the insight in a time there must have been other environmental and climate conditions, whose processes are still not sufficiently explored and understood.