"The New Geology of Mars"

Pete Mouginis-Mark
Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology
University of Hawaii


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Abstract:

Much of what we thought we knew about the geologic history of Mars is being
rapidly rewritten, thanks mainly to data being returned from NASA's Mars
Global Surveyor (MGS) mission.  In orbit around the Red Planet since
September 1997, MGS is now providing startling new insights into early
crustal processes, the magnetic field, topography, and the paleo-hydrology
of the planet, to name but a few attributes.  Stunning new images, some
with a spatial resolution of about 2 m/pixel, also show Mars to have had a
complex history of erosion and deposition.  Images of the polar caps show
dynamic processes continue until the present, and the relative ages of
various landforms over the whole planet can now be more clearly assessed.
With two new spacecraft arriving at Mars late this year (Mars Climate
Orbiter on September 23rd, Mars Polar Lander on December 3rd), keeping
track of our understanding of the "New Mars" is relevant not only to
possible comparisons with Earth for studies of  (for example) climate
change, but also future mission planners.  This talk therefore attempts to
provide a summary of what is currently known about the geology of Mars.