Lunar and Planetary Science XXIX
1733.pdf
THE NON-RANDOM DISTRIBUTION OF MARTIAN VOLCANOES. J.F. Rodionova and S.V.
Koroteev. Sternberg State Astronomical Institute, 119899 Moscow, Russia. E-mail: [email protected]
Two main bands spaced along big circles inclined at an angle of almost 90 degrees to
each other and including most of the volcanoes
were exposed on the base of maps (1,2,3). The
first one intersects with the equator on the longitude 110 degrees and has an inclination of 54 degrees (fig.1). It includes: Arsia Mons, Pavonic
Mons, Ascraeus Mons,
Uranius Patera,
Ceraunius Tholus, Tharsis Tholus, Tyrrhena
Patera and others (table 1). The coordinates and
areas of the volcanos' basin are determined with
the use of maps (1,2,4). The second band includes: Olympus Mons, Elysium Mons, Hecates
Tholus, Albor Tholus, Jovis Tholus and others
(table ). Valles Marineris are also in this band.
Table of volcanoes situated in the first and
second bands.
N
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
THE FIRST BAND
Name or Lat/Lon
Area x 103 km2
Arsia Mons
131.4
Pavonic Mons
131.4
Ascraeus Mons
149.1
Uranius Patera
46.0
Ceraunius Tholus
11.4
Tharsis Tholus
15.9
Uranius Tholus
3.8
Biblis Patera
15.1
Ulyssis Patera
9.2
Tyrrhena Patera
45.0
44N 62
19.5
18S 116
0.8
18S 113
1.9
35S 145
7.6
38S 148
5.0
31S 140
1.9
42S 154
1.0
41S 159
1.5
44N 79
4.3
45N 70
3.6
37N 75
36.9
47N 55
0.2
47N 54
0.2
53S 179
0.3
N
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
THE SECOND BAND
Name or Lat/Lon
Area x 103 km2
Olympus Mons
254.6
Hecates Tholus
33.4
Albor Tholus
19
Jovis Tholus
4.0
Elysium Mons
108.9
18S 60
6.4
21S 60
3.0
27N 126
35.1
1N 136
0.7
8S
93
1.7
Two additional bands are connected with the
boundary between highlands and lowlands on
Mars. The third circle is inclined at 35 degrees to
the equator and includes mensae: Deuteronilus,
Cydonia, Nepentes, Nilosyrtis, Protonilus and ten
volcanoes (fig.1). The fourth band which is perpendicular to the third one includes: Patera Alba,
Hadriaca Patera, Hellas Planitia. Many fossae
have the same direction as these bands. Sirenum
and Tantalus Fossae are parallel to the first band.
We can suggest the existence of deep fractures
situated under these big circles. The mechanism
of formation of these deep fractures is unknown
but it is possible that the main role is played by:
irregular rotation of the planet, preccesion of the
axis of rotation and the tidal wave.
Plate tectonics may have a place on Mars (5).
Therefore, as on Earth the martian volcanoes may
be connected with the tectonic processes along of
the boundaries of the plates.
The landing site of Mars Pathfinder is on the
third band (19N,33).
Fig.2 shows the global fracture on Europa
looks like a big circle.
References: (1) Geologic map of western
equatoria, eastern equatorial and polar regions,1:15 000 000, USGS,1986. (2) Atlas of
Mars, 1:15 000 000 Topographic series, USGS,
1991. (3) Map of Mars showing channels and
possible paleolake basins, USGS, 1995. (4)
Topographic Map of Mars, 1:2 000 000, USGS,
1986. (5) Sleep N. H., Norman M.D. (1994) Martian plate tectonics. JGR, 99,N3,pp. 5639-5655.
Lunar and Planetary Science XXIX
THE NON-RANDOM DISTRIBUTION OF MARTIAN VOLCANOES. J.F. Rodionova et al.
Figure 1
Figure 2
1733.pdf