Science and Exploration

A Fresh Shallow Valley Transitions To An Inverted Channel On Mars

By Keith Cowing
Status Report
NASA
February 11, 2023
Filed under , ,
A Fresh Shallow Valley Transitions To An Inverted Channel On Mars
Northern Arabia Terra On Mars
NASA

This image shows a portion of a long valley system in northern Arabia Terra.

The valley must be relatively young because it cuts through the ejecta of an impact crater that still retains it entire ejecta blanket, indicating the crater is also fairly young and fresh.

The valley is interesting because it transitions to an inverted channel near its end point. Inverted channels form when a valley fills with materials. Later, erosion removes the surrounding terrain leaving behind higher standing and more resistant material that filled the valley.

ID: ESP_041144_2200
date: 7 May 2015
altitude: 298 km

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_041144_2200NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona

SpaceRef co-founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.