Sixth Mars Polar Science Conference (2016)
6026.pdf
SHORELINE FEATURES AT THE DRAINED SYLVENSTEIN LAKE, GERMANY, WITH
APPLICATION TO MARS. J. W. Nußbaumer1 1Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
Introduction: I investigate the surface morphology
of a study area in upper bavaria, Germany, which is
characterized by a variety of landforms that may
resemble those of martian shoreline landscapes (Fig. 25). The Mars ocean hypothesis states that nearly a third
of the surface of Mars was covered by an ocean of
liquid water early in the planet’s geologic history[1][2].
This primordial ocean, dubbed Paleo-Ocean and
Oceanus Borealis [3], would have filled the Vastitas
Borealis basin in the northern hemisphere, a region
which lies 4–5 km (2.5–3 miles) below the mean
planetary elevation, at a time period of approximately
4.1–3.8 billion years ago. Evidence for this ocean
includes geographic features resembling ancient
shorelines, and the chemical properties of the Martian
soil and atmosphere [4]. Early Mars would have
required a denser atmosphere and warmer climate to
allow liquid water to remain at the surface. The
hypothesis of an ancient (Hesperian) ocean within the
northern plains of Mars is one of the most debated
issues of the martian geology (e.g., [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
[10]). Such a reservoir in Vastitas Borealis could
potentially represent a remnant of a more extensive
standing body of water (an ocean) that possibly existed
within the northern plains of Mars (e.g., [11] [12]). For
how long this body of water was in the liquid form is
still unknown. New evidence for a vast northern ocean
was published in May 2016. A large team of scientists
described how some of the surface in Ismenius Lacus
quadrangle was altered by two Tsunamis. The
Tsunamis were caused by asteroids striking the ocean.
Both were thought to have been strong enough to
create 30 Km diameter craters. The first Tsunami
picked up and carried boulders the size of cars or small
houses. The backwash from the wave formed channels
by rearranging the boulders.
The Sylvenstein lake: Sylvenstein Dam (Fig. 1) is
an earthen embankment dam in the Isar valley, in the
alpine part of Upper Bavaria, Germany which
impounds the Sylvenstein Reservoir (German:
Sylvensteinspeicher). Several hydropower plants were
built in the tributary of the upper Isar river in the
1920s, for example at the Achensee and Lake Walchen
Power Plant. Therefore, the river ran nearly dry during
the dry season. This mainly affected the town of Bad
Tölz. A reservoir was established to ensure a minimum
level of water in the river. During the dry season a
volumetric flow of 4 cubic metres per second is
released to prevent the Isar from running dry.
Additionally, the reservoir provides flood control for
the Isar river between Bad Tölz and Munich.
Fig. 1: Image of the Sylvenstein lake
Fig. 2: Image of a shoreline at Sylvenstein lake
Sixth Mars Polar Science Conference (2016)
6026.pdf
References: [1] Cabrol, N. and E. Grin (eds.).
2010. Lakes on Mars. Elsevier. NY. [2] Rodriguez, A.
et al. (2015) Nature. [3] Baker, V.et al. (1991) Nature,
352, 589-594. [4] Villanueva, G. et al. (2015) Science.
[5] Parker, T. et al. (1989) Icarus 82, 111–145. [6]
Parker, T.et al. (1993) JGR 98, 11061–11078. [7]
Clifford, S.M., Parker, T.J., (2001) Icarus 154, 40–79.
[8] Carr, M.H., Head, J.W. (2003). JGR 108, 5042.
[9] Tanaka, K. et al. (2003) JGR 108, 8043. [10]
Tanaka, K.et al. (2005) Geologic map of the Northern
Plains of Mars. USGS Map. p. 2888. [11] Baker, V. et
al. 1991. Nature 352, 589–594. [12] Boyce, J. et al.
(2005). JGR..11003008B
Fig. 3: Image of a shoreline at Sylvenstein lake
Fig. 4: Image of a shoreline at Sylvenstein lake
Fig. 5: Image of a ripple features at Sylvenstein lake