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Iterate

(3,020 posts) Sat Aug 11, 2012, 04:12 PM Aug 2012

UCLA scientist discovers plate tectonics on Mars

View of central segment of Mars' Valles Marineris, in which an older circular basin created by an impact is offset for about 93 miles (150 kilometers) by a fault. (Credit: Image from Google Mars created by MOLA Science Team)

UCLA scientist discovers plate tectonics on Mars
By Stuart Wolpert August 09, 2012

For years, many scientists had thought that plate tectonics existed nowhere in our solar system but on Earth. Now, a UCLA scientist has discovered that the geological phenomenon, which involves the movement of huge crustal plates beneath a planet's surface, also exists on Mars.

"Mars is at a primitive stage of plate tectonics. It gives us a glimpse of how the early Earth may have looked and may help us understand how plate tectonics began on Earth," said An Yin, a UCLA professor of Earth and space sciences and the sole author of the new research.

Yin made the discovery during his analysis of satellite images from THEMIS (Thermal Emission Imaging System), an instrument on board the Mars Odyssey spacecraft, and from the HIRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. He analyzed about 100 satellite images — approximately a dozen were revealing of plate tectonics.
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"We have been able to identify only the two plates," he said. "For the other areas on Mars, I think the chances are very, very small. I don't see any other major crack."

more...http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/ucla-scientist-discovers-plate-237303.aspx

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UCLA scientist discovers plate tectonics on Mars (Original Post) Iterate Aug 2012 OP

Is that really true? That "many scientists had thought that plate tectonics existed nowhere gtar100 Aug 2012 #1

That's not true Plate Tectonics. Odin2005 Aug 2012 #2

Actually that was one of the sub-topics that had interested me in the news release. Iterate Aug 2012 #3

gtar100

(4,192 posts)

1. Is that really true? That "many scientists had thought that plate tectonics existed nowhere

Reply to Iterate (Original post)

Sat Aug 11, 2012, 08:16 PM

Aug 2012

in our solar system but on Earth." Why is stuff reported like that? What's wrong with saying, "Don't know."

There's a lot about planets we are only just discovering now. I'm okay with saying "I don't know yet" and I'm sure there are "many scientists" who think it's okay to. We'll get there...just no shortcuts.

Odin2005

(53,521 posts)

2. That's not true Plate Tectonics.

Reply to Iterate (Original post)

Sat Aug 11, 2012, 11:08 PM

Aug 2012

That's faulting caused by the formation of the Tharsis Plateau and it's volcanoes. Calling this "plate tectonics" is sensationalistic.

Iterate

(3,020 posts)

3. Actually that was one of the sub-topics that had interested me in the news release.

Reply to Odin2005 (Reply #2)

Sun Aug 12, 2012, 07:44 AM

Aug 2012

I'd left the tab open for a couple of days to the point when it was a matter of either post or ignore. There are a couple of sub-topics that seemed interesting though, including the imposition of human definitions applied to dynamic processes. Whether it's a true plate, or stalled proto-plate, or just a fault will get defined and played out here. Frankly, I would have just left it at the level of "an interesting observation".

Another thing I noticed was that Yin is the sole author and used only 100 or so images, meaning that there is plenty of interesting work that can be done with the Mars data without a large team or expensive resources. If I see the article in Lithoshere, I'll be sure to post it.

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