JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 108, NO. E4, 8032, doi:10.1029/2002JE001864, 2003
[2] Although glacial conditions have been proposed for Mars [Kargel and Strom, 1992] some interpretations of landforms as being “glacial” are in doubt [Thomson and Head, 2001]. However, topographic forms, similar to “rock glaciers” on Earth, have been suggested as occurring on Mars. By terrestrial analogy, they are suggestive of buried ice and thus indicative of Martian permafrost or glacial conditions [Baker, 2001]. The extent and form of ice in these features is clearly important in investigating the presence, cycling and age of water on Mars. On Earth, rock glaciers are complex features with a terminology that is by no means settled and a variety of interpretations have been proposed which are still in dispute. Three distinct formation mechanisms have been suggested; for the most part, these cannot be distinguished by visual inspection. For clear interpretation of these features, their implications on Mars and to provide the basis for further investigation, a clear understanding of the Earth-bound features is necessary. This is especially important for interpreting geophysical data as well as topographic imaging. This paper thus reviews the terrestrial landforms, shows some of their complex topography, discusses the mechanisms of formation and flow, then applies these ideas to previous Martian interpretations and some Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) data: Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) images, Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA). Suggestions are also made about detection methods and ways in which different types of ice might be detected and their extent determined.
Citation: , Rock glaciers and protalus landforms: Analogous forms and ice sources on Earth and Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 108(E4), 8032, doi:10.1029/2002JE001864, 2003.