Exobiology in the Solar System & The Search for Life on Mars - ESA
Exobiology in the Solar System & The Search for Life on Mars - ESA
Exobiology in the Solar System & The Search for Life on Mars - ESA
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Site 3: SE Elysium Bas<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Channel and Lacustr<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>e Deposits<br />
3ºN/185ºW<br />
Elevati<strong>on</strong>: -1 km to -2 km<br />
team I: exobiology and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> mars surface envir<strong>on</strong>ment/II.4<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> south-east porti<strong>on</strong> of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Elysium bas<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> is a flat area of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> nor<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>rn lowlands near <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> planetary<br />
dichotomy (Dohm et al., 1998). <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> bas<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> was a catchment area <str<strong>on</strong>g>for</str<strong>on</strong>g> a large part of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Amaz<strong>on</strong>ian area, with<br />
a number of outflow channels <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> bas<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>. It is quite probable that volcanic and sedimentary rocks coexist,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>for</str<strong>on</strong>g>m<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g a complex bas<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> with a wide variety of geological units.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> presence of channels is firmly recognised, whereas <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>for</str<strong>on</strong>g> lakes is scarcer. However, it is<br />
quite probable that <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> area c<strong>on</strong>ta<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ed bodies of water <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>termittently <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> epochs as young as Amaz<strong>on</strong>ian (Scott<br />
et al., 1995).<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> coexist<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g lacustr<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>e deposit, outflow channels and volcanic (also pyroclastic) deposits make this<br />
land<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g site quite attractive. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> possibility of large lava flow covers cannot, however, be ruled out entirely.<br />
Fig. II.4.7/3. Site 3: <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> flat morphology of this part of <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Elysium Bas<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> has been suggested to be <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> result of a stand<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g body<br />
of water. (Vik<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g image, NASA.)<br />
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