Geomorphic Gumbo

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Caption:

Released 24 November 2003

Just northeast of the small Tharsis volcano Biblis Patera lies a scene of surprising complexity. The upper left portion of the image shows the furrowed terrain of Gigas Sulci, likely produced in response to the evolution of Olympus Mons volcano. A narrow channel that probably contained flowing lava snakes through the center of the image before transitioning into a gaping chasm. The lower third of the image shows a jumble of textures, presumably produced from the emplacement and erosion of lava flows, but which are not easily classified.

Image information: VIS instrument. Latitude 8.8, Longitude 233.2 East (126.8 West). 19 meter/pixel resolution.

Note: this THEMIS visual image has not been radiometrically nor geometrically calibrated for this preliminary release. An empirical correction has been performed to remove instrumental effects. A linear shift has been applied in the cross-track and down-track direction to approximate spacecraft and planetary motion. Fully calibrated and geometrically projected images will be released through the Planetary Data System in accordance with Project policies at a later time.

Background Info:

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) was developed by Arizona State University, Tempe, in collaboration with Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing. The THEMIS investigation is led by Dr. Philip Christensen at Arizona State University. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, is the prime contractor for the Odyssey project, and developed and built the orbiter. Mission operations are conducted jointly from Lockheed Martin and from JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

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