Discovery Of Plate Tectonics On Mars

[ritu 1]

The images from the Mars Odyssey spacecraft, with the help of THEMIS (Thermal Emission Imaging System) and from NASA's Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter's High Resolution Imaging camera, can prove to be helpful to show how the development of tectonic plates took place on the earth.This could be possible because the images in question show that Mars is in the beginning stages of the plate tectonic process. These are plates under the surface of the planet and look quite like the plates that are found beneath the earth's surface.

The plates when studied more carefully, were compared with the results of the geological survey that was conducted on the place of division of two of the seven tectonic plates, the area of study were the Himalayas and Tibet. The result of the comparison brought into light many similarities like the canyon which has a smooth and flat wall, which could be generated only by a fault, the cliffs which come in direct comparison are the ones in California's Death Valley which is also generated by a fault. The presence of the linear volcanic zone on Mars is evident enough to show the presence of tectonic plates.

One of the researchers An Yin said that these features are not found else in the solar system except Earth and Mars.

While studying the surface of Mars, the deepest and the longest canyon system in our solar system was found, the name for it is Valles Marineris, derived from the name of the Mars Orbiter of the early 70's Mariner 9 and given a latin version. The system of canyons is close to nine times the size of the Earth's Grand Canyon, the one in Mars is about 2,500 miles long.

The canyon system on Mars divides the two plates which have been found to move horizontally 93 miles relative to each other, it is comparable to California's San Andreas Fault which is also over the place of the crossing of two plates, has moved twice of that on Mars, but the proportion remains undisturbed because the earth is twice the size of Mars. Landslides are also found on the planet and they are found to be shifted from their origin by a fault.

The creation of the canyon system or the movement of the plates or the rate of their movement are still to be researched upon by the team with much more to be found. The two plates have been given the name of Valles Marineris North and Valles Marineris South.\

The UCLA is however the largest university in California


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[fermin25 3]

Well I'm no scientist but based on common sense I think that two planets may be the same just because they belong to the same galactic system and also have the same form is very simplistic. Therefore, I believe that the findings of plate tectonics on Mars may perhaps indicate that both planets are different in geological aspects and I have so much confidence in the information that the crust of Mars is in the early stages of development. I also think that although science is very important geological issues are most important to study Mars for example if some living creature may have lived or currently live on Mars because the planet can be a way to save us from the chaos that one day will be on the planet when it is saturated by the huge population growth.Should also do some research on space medicine and how are you can influence the development, diagnosis and treatment of devastating pathologies such as cancer and AIDS. They travel to Mars is a utopia will soon be reached by man but there are more important right now that the only important things go missing undiscovered because while we focus on the scientific community for big things how are you. There are people who are dying or suffering from genetic diseases that have no cure and as affecting only a small percentage of the population are not given the proper research.I think these investigations despite being important not heavy or impact certain biomedical discoveries may have on humans now. Medicine needs a lot of support in many areas not only academics but also human to allow people to better health especially those that afflict Hereditary or genetic diseases that have a devastating also obscure manifestations.