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Published Online November 13, 2003
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1090544

Reports

Submitted on August 18, 2003
Accepted on October 28, 2003

Evidence for Persistent Flow and Aqueous Sedimentation on Early Mars

Michael C. Malin 1* Kenneth S. Edgett 1

1 Malin Space Science Systems, Post Office Box 910148, San Diego, CA 92191, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: malin{at}msss.com.

Landforms representative of sedimentary processes and environments that occurred early in martian history have been recognized in Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera and Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System images. Evidence of distributary, channelized flow (in particular lasting long enough to foster meandering) and the resulting deposition of a fan-shaped apron of debris indicate persistent flow conditions and formation of at least some large, intracrater layered sedimentary sequences within fluvial, and potentially lacustrine, environments.


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)