The morphology of the martian ICE CAPS: A mathematical model of ICE-Dust kinetics

R. J. Zammett; A. C. Fowler

doi:10.1137/080734558

The morphology of the martian ICE CAPS: A mathematical model of ICE-Dust kinetics

R. J. Zammett, A. C. Fowler

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

University of Oxford

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Spiral-shaped canyons on the polar ice caps of Mars are striking morphological features whose explanation is still mysterious. We pose a model for the kinetics at the ice-atmosphere interface based on the positive feedback properties of both dust and ice albedo within the north polar ice cap, together with katabatic wind transport of exposed dust. Analysis of this model indicates that traveling waves are possible, but only solitary waves are found in the numerical solution. This suggests that the traveling wave hypothesis for trough formation may not be an appropriate explanation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2409-2433
Number of pages	25
Journal	SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics
Volume	70
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1137/080734558
Publication status	Published - 2010

Keywords

Mars
Phase plane analysis
Polar ice caps
Spiral waves

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10.1137/080734558

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abstract = "Spiral-shaped canyons on the polar ice caps of Mars are striking morphological features whose explanation is still mysterious. We pose a model for the kinetics at the ice-atmosphere interface based on the positive feedback properties of both dust and ice albedo within the north polar ice cap, together with katabatic wind transport of exposed dust. Analysis of this model indicates that traveling waves are possible, but only solitary waves are found in the numerical solution. This suggests that the traveling wave hypothesis for trough formation may not be an appropriate explanation.",

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AB - Spiral-shaped canyons on the polar ice caps of Mars are striking morphological features whose explanation is still mysterious. We pose a model for the kinetics at the ice-atmosphere interface based on the positive feedback properties of both dust and ice albedo within the north polar ice cap, together with katabatic wind transport of exposed dust. Analysis of this model indicates that traveling waves are possible, but only solitary waves are found in the numerical solution. This suggests that the traveling wave hypothesis for trough formation may not be an appropriate explanation.

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KW - Phase plane analysis

KW - Polar ice caps

KW - Spiral waves

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The morphology of the martian ICE CAPS: A mathematical model of ICE-Dust kinetics

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Keywords

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