Transcript Mars * Earth Science - Milford-NASA

Geology & Volcanism
A Quick review of Earth
Plate Tectonics:
“A theory that explains the global
distribution of geological phenomena
such as seismicity, volcanism,
continental drift, and mountain
building in terms of the formation,
destruction, movement, and
interaction of the earth's lithosphere
plates.”
Subduction Zones:
Are the places where two lithospheric
plates come together. Oceanic plates
are more dense and thus move under
continental (less dense) plates. So,
most volcanoes on land occur parallel
to and inland from the boundary
between the two plates.
QUICK FACT:
Earth has three types of Volcanoes:
Cinder Cone, Composite, and Shield
Earth – Continued
Hot Spots:
Are fixed places within the mantle or oceanic
lithosphere where rocks melt to become
magma. When a hot spot is situated in the oceanic
lithosphere a shield volcanoes is built.
Rock Cycle:
There are three different ways rock can be created
on earth and thus there are three main
classifications of rock, based on the three
processes - igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
QUICK FACT:
Oldest rock on Earth
2011: “Scientists have discovered rocks that
are 4.28 billion years old, making them 250
million years more ancient than any previously
discovered rocks. Our planet formed about 4.6
billion years ago, so these rocks could provide
a unique window on the young Earth.”
MARS Geology & Volcanoes
• NASA Mars Exploration Program: Geology
– Goal 3: Characterize the Geology of Mars
• All NASA missions to Mars (past, present, & future)
QUICK FACT:
Oldest rock on MARS:
MARS - Volcanism
A Few Changes:
The oldest Martian meteorite was
believed to be ALH84001, at ~ 4.5
billion years.
(New data (4/15/10) may date the meteorite at
4.091 billion years )
1st: NO PLATE TECTONICS
2nd: NO SUBDUCTION
3rd: NO ROCK CYCLE
So, What does this mean?
So, What does this mean?
• Mars’ geology is basically unchanged
• One type of Volcano is formed – Shield Volcano
• Rocks and Minerals on Mars are original.
They do not recycle into another type of rock.
• Mars become the perfect place to study . . . HOW?
– NASA Orbiters Missions
– NASA Rovers Missions
Geography : Study Volcanoes
NASA ORBITERS - MISSIONS
NASA Missions -Orbiters
1997 Mars Global Surveyor
MOLA: The Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter
created the most accurate global
topographic map of any planet in the solar
system, giving scientists elevation maps
precise to within about 30 centimeters (1
foot) in the vertical dimension
2001 Mars Odyssey
THEMIS : By looking at the visible and
infrared parts of the spectrum, THEMIS is
determining the distribution of minerals on
the surface of Mars and helping scientists
understand how the mineralogy of the
planet relates to the landforms.
2003 Mars Express
1997 Mars Global Surveyor
2003 Mars Express
Seven scientific instruments onboard
the orbiting spacecraft will perform a
series of remote sensing experiments
designed to shed new light on the
Martian atmosphere, the planet's
structure, geology and composition.
2001 Mars Odyssey
Mars Volcanoes
• Mars has the Largest
Volcanoes in our solar
system.
• Up to 100 times larger
than on Earth
• Only Shield Volcanoes
are on Mars
Shield Volcano
Shield Volcano -- A broad volcanic
cone with gentle slopes constructed
of successive lava flows.
Olympus Mons is the largest volcano on
Mars. This shield volcano, similar to
volcanoes in Hawaii, measures 624 km
(374 mi) in diameter by 25 km (16 mi)
high. Located on the Tharsis Plateau
near the equator, Olympus Mons is
bordered by an escarpment. The caldera
in the center is 80 km (50 mi) wide and
contains multiple circular, overlapping
collapse craters created by different
volcanic events. The radial features on
the slopes of the volcano were formed by
overflowing lava and debris.
http://pdsproto.jpl.nasa.gov/captions/mars/olympus.htm
Picture: NASA Viking Orbiter (July 19. 1995)
Comparison
Mauna Loa Hawaii
Landsat Image : February 5, 2000
Olympus Mons
Geography from Space
Picture 1:
2003 Mars Express ( European Space
Agency)
MOLA Data (Science Team)
Regional map of the Tharsis dome (high
elevation to the west) and Chryse outflow
basin (low lying region to the east)
http://sci.esa.int/sciencee/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=31028&fbodylongid=
646
Picture 2:
2001 Mars Odyssey Mission
THEMIS: The Thermal Emission Imaging
System is a camera that images Mars in the
visible and infrared parts of the spectrum in
order to determine the distribution of
minerals on the surface of Mars.
http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/mission/techn
ology/
THEMIS: Another View
Olympus
MARS : Science Fiction?
Pyramids
Mars Volcanoes
MARS Activity
Mapping the Surface of the Planet
Mars Education Program
Arizona State University
http://marsed.asu.edu/mapping
To Study Rocks and Minerals
NASA ROVER - MISSIONS
NASA Missions - Rovers
1976 Viking 1 & 2
Primary scientific objectives of the lander
mission: to study the biology, chemical
composition (organic and inorganic),
meteorology, seismology, magnetic
properties, appearance, and physical
properties of the Martian surface and
atmosphere.
2004 Mars Explorer Rover (MER)
Panoramic Camera : Determining the
mineralogy, texture, and structure of the
local terrain.
Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer
Identifying promising rocks and soils for
closer examination and for determining the
processes that formed Martian rocks.
1976 Viking 1
Microscopic Imager : Obtaining close-up,
high-resolution images of rocks and soils
Mössbauer Spectrometer : Close-up
investigations of the mineralogy of ironbearing rocks and soils.
Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer : Closeup analysis of the abundances of elements
that make up rocks and soils.
2004 Mars Explorer Rover
Rocks and Minerals
2004 Mars Explorer Rover (MER)
Marquette Island is a coarse-grained
rock with a basalt composition. The
coarseness indicates it cooled slowly
from molten rock, allowing crystals
time to grow. This composition
suggests to geologists that it
originated deep in the crust, not at
the surface where it would cool
quicker and have finer-grained
texture
Rocks and Minerals
2004 Mars Explorer Rover (MER)
The science team used two tools on
Opportunity's arm -- the microscopic
imager and the alpha particle X-ray
spectrometer -- to inspect the rock's
texture and composition. Information
from the spectrometer confirmed that
the rock is a nickel-iron meteorite.
The team informally named the rock
"Oileán Ruaidh" (pronounced ay-lan
ruah), which is the Gaelic name for
an island off the coast of
northwestern Ireland
Rocks and Minerals
2004 Mars Explorer Rover (MER)
The rover used the tools on its robotic
arm to examine the texture and
composition of target areas on the
rock with and without the dark
coating. The rock is about the size of
a loaf of bread. Initial analysis was
inconclusive about whether the
coating on the rock is material that
melted during the impact event that
dug the crater.
This view is presented in false color,
which makes some differences
between materials easier to see. It
combines three separate images
taken through filters.
MARS : No Longer Science Fiction
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm?id=886
MARS
A New Way to Study Earth Science
Questions?
NASA Reference Websites
•
http://www.us-satellite.net/shortcourses/endeavor/marslinks.html
•
http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/mgs/
•
http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/
•
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=9
•
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/video/spirit01.html
•
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/viking/
•
http://quest.nasa.gov/mars/events/webchats/7-24jf.html
•
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/1999/ast29apr99_1/
Earth Reference Websites
•
http://www.answers.com/topic/plate-tectonics
•
http://www.rocksandminerals.com/rockcycle.htm
•
http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/hotspots.php
•
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080925144624.htm
•
http://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/2885/earths-oldest-rocks
•
http://www.space.com/8229-oldest-mars-meteorite-younger-thought.html
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/slidesets/mvolcan/volcanoes_index.shtml
Non NASA Reference Websites
•
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/marsvolc.htm
•
http://marsed.mars.asu.edu/msip-home
•
http://themis.asu.edu/zoom-20081216a