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The Global Distribution of Craters With Alluvial Fans and Deltas on Mars

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We present an inventory of alluvial fans and deltas within martian impact craters based on a systematic global survey of Context Camera images. Our database includes 314 fan‐hosting craters, with… Click to show full abstract

We present an inventory of alluvial fans and deltas within martian impact craters based on a systematic global survey of Context Camera images. Our database includes 314 fan‐hosting craters, with a total of 890 alluvial fans and 114 deltas. Alluvial fans and deltas are more widespread than previously reported (∼40°N to 54°S) and are strongly banded with respect to latitude. Most craters with alluvial fans occur at higher elevations (10°S–30°S) and along the dichotomy boundary (0°–10°N). Deltas occur at lower elevations (0°–40°N) where access to groundwater may have enabled the formation of lakes, and to a lesser extent in the highlands (0°–30°S). Alluvial fans in southern mid‐latitude craters preferentially formed along the northern and southern walls, which may reflect climatic control through solar insolation. The widespread distribution within the observed latitude bands and the similar Hesperian to Amazonian age of alluvial fan‐hosting craters is consistent with late‐stage synoptic precipitation.

Keywords: global distribution; distribution craters; alluvial fans; craters alluvial; fans deltas

Journal Title: Geophysical Research Letters
Year Published: 2021

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