Introduction The question which we based the experience off of was, what was the relationship between the depth, width, and location of grabens and tension cracks. The question is important because the answer will show us the affects that tectonics have on Mars. The three hypotheses we had were if the crack is in a lower elevation then the grabens will be wider and the tension cracks will have more depth, grabens will be wider and tension cracks will be deeper higher elevations, and more tension cracks will be found in the Tharsis region. Background Tension Crack: Small thin crack that goes deep into the ground. Graben: Shallow crack that is very wide because of the caved in ground above it. Planet Tectonics: Any type of ground movement on a planet. Two types of fractures are called grabens and tension cracks. They are formed in different ways. Tension cracks are formed when there is tension that builds up in the ground and causes a split in the crust. These are usually very deep and you can't see the bottom. They are also very steep and narrow. Grabens are formed when the earth splits apart and a middle chunk falls down through the crack, creating a flat bottom. The hypotheses are some things that we know or think that we know about the Martian surface. One of these hypotheses is: Tension Cracks are formed by brittle deformation. Brittle deformation is when the plates move apart and form a fracture. The overlying rock is very brittle and will not bend when the plates move apart. This causes the rocks to crack. Another hypothesis is: Grabens are formed when the plates spread apart and then the overlying rock falls into the fracture and creates the flat surface that we see on the surface. This happens because the rocks above the place are very malleable and so they stretch. This causes the rocks to spread while the plates are moving apart. When the rocks cannot stretch any more they fall into the hole that the plates have caused. The last hypothesis is: Synclines and Anticlines are formed when rocks that have layers are compressed. This is the process when the plates move toward each other and the rocks move up and then form a basin. The Anticline are the bumps that are going up, like a hill. The Syncline are the basins of the Anticlines. Methods
I. We used the THEMIS Camera that is attached to the Mars Odyssey to collect research. 1. We studies cracks, fractures, and fissures because when we saw the pictures we were instantly hooked! The distinguishing features that we noticed were: depth, flat bottoms, and V shaped bottoms. The geographic regions we focused on were the Tharsis region and Elysium Mons Region. We gathered 166 images to answer our science question. The items we recorded were the ID number, latitude, longitude, what type of crack, and were it was located like in the Tharsis or Elysium rejoin Data Table How we arranged our data was in seven categories. The first was the image's identification number, the second and third was longitude east, and latitude north. The image identification number starts with the letter V or I. V is for visible camera and I represented infrared camera. We just used the visible camera because with the visible camera we could identify the fissures and Mars' surface. The fourth and fifth was depth and width of the fissure. The depth and width was measured in kilometers because the size of most cracks were large. The sixth through ninth were classifications. The sixth and seventh described the fissure as a graben or a tension crack. The last two were classified whether the fissure was in the Tharsis region or Elysium. For describing whether the fissure was a graben or a tension crack and if the fissure was in the Tharsis or Elysium region, we used the digits one or zero. One represented positive and zero represented negative. The reason 1s and 0s are used because you can graph 1s and 0s. Image ID # Longitude (E) Latitude (N) Depth (km) Width (km) Graben Tension Crack V17381016 157.692 11.155 0.150 1.200 yes no V03815003 16.56 26.154 0.400 2.480 yes no V05650019 139.875 27.91 1.750 16.000 yes no V08671019 138.453 27.534 1.200 8.500 yes no V12078010 134.42 21.58 7.500 25.000 yes no V36261033 147.031 21.18 6.000 4.000 yes no V12402005 147.74 20.33 6.800 3.000 yes no V26716020 150.2886 17.2744 9.500 1.500 yes no V12402005 147.7197 20.3662 2.750 3.100 yes no V28895015 287.0957 20.93 0.857 0.724 yes no V10288013 289.1494 13.8945 0.222 0.210 yes no V17801018 283.9507 25.8237 0.121 2.210 yes no V15905001 281.801-5.95 1.444 7.000 Yes No V16754002 271.029-7.467 0.855 5.300 Yes No V10206010 136.135 25.926 0.188 1.850 Yes No V37494023 219.301 6.801 0.170 18.190 YES NO
V37494023 219.301 6.801 0.170 18.190 YES NO V05512 213.4883 4.0986 0.530 6.250 YES NO V00991006 222.227 38.473 0.396 17.500 YES NO V0715746 236.113 6.966 0.958 17.500 YES NO V07594002 260.523 7.396 13.580 5.400 Yes No V11953008 140.662 24.281 18.030 7.500 Yes No V31317014 235.855 12.629 1.820 2.250 Yes No V06299020 141.961 22.023 3.340 0.019 Yes No V07157046 236.301 6.824 8.660 0.017 Yes No V13775015 141.195 23.078 0.864 0.016 Yes No V09544015 150.453 9.508 12.000 0.042 Yes No V35411003 213.719 13.746 8.720 0.033 Yes No V21320015 308 22.375 22.880 0.022 Yes No V27262036 238.0059 13.4844 0.066 2.590 Yes No V36394002 298.258-14.189 2.150 11.300 Yes No V01855007 141.684 23.375 2.570 4.300 Yes No V26041001 209-6.936 8.670 4.700 Yes No V14258010 248.626 26.084 5.160 3.550 Yes No V18051003 295.5459-14.8154 23.050 15.330 Yes No V17194017 153.803 23.986 4.800 8.200 Yes No V18451007 262.063 36.4426 2.010 10.210 Yes No V28995011 283.101 27.4716 7.480 4.450 Yes No V27327024 161.372 7.1 178.000 44.000 Yes No V05650019 140.22 28.045996 100.000 22.200 Yes No V27278028 138.662 30.0609 400.000 3.200 Yes No V05484013 246.279 24.931 100.000 5.900 Yes No V02547010 338.405 1.03323 250.000 14.500 Yes No V35275011 152.842 24.1179 100.000 11.200 Yes No V05790007 62.688 32.559 1.416 32.300 Yes No V12020005 10.908 42.881 3.842 13.500 Yes No V14040008 58.27 33.646 1.325 10.600 Yes No V12020005 10.869 42.811 0.662 12.200 Yes No V31309020 106.094 9.738 5.000 5.200 Yes No V28104012 69.309 32.813 1.039 10.000 Yes No V15041004 339.184 7.514 1.037 26.000 Yes No V23980002 262.467-11.387 2.090 11.500 Yes No V04583003 31.809-22.67 0.773 8.000 Yes No V05831008 316.248 3.826 2.172 15.200 Yes No V17381016 157.692 11.155 0.150 1.200 yes no V09812013 338.696 7.2 1.019 18.400 yes no V13300013 161.372 7.16 0.329 1.370 yes no V06299020 92.375 22.5 0.002 14.000 yes no V17519015 139.188 28.139 2.500 16.500 yes no V36798018 140.414 29.431 8.250 2.500 yes no V16503011 287.1553 16.8994 0.673 16.000 yes no V11573997 301.939 20.77 0.424 7.750 yes no V18649013 298.3701 5.9033 0.243 4.900 yes no V05894012 300.41 20.73 0.416 5.250 yes no V16665013 300.95 23.95 0.480 2.250 yes no V06695001 266.19-12.44 0.268 6.000 yes no V09429001 254.44-7.75 2.092 15.000 yes no V06757002 280.109-8.234 1.005 10.020 yes no
V06757002 280.109-8.234 1.005 10.020 yes no V08267009 266.777 22.7833 0.560 2.500 yes no V21708005 260.629 25.453 0.480 10.000 yes no V05857019 288.043 16.922 0.824 12.000 yes no V26836019 288 16.258 0.551 7.000 yes no V05266019 55.5166 39.0498 0.543 4.660 YES NO V04604006 65.0747 31.3901 0.891 7.430 YES NO V26862023 259.0645 24.1348 0.238 2.280 YES NO V01714012 247.8823 25.8276 0.569 3.130 YES NO V13184004 296.2539 21.709 0.210 0.960 YES NO V18824005 293.6904 26.1646 0.430 1.200 YES NO V35234015 248.765 4.053 1.436 5.850 YES NO V28995011 283.101 27.4716 0.428 19.000 YES NO V35275011 152.842 24.1179 0.844 21.300 YES NO V13063008 158.75 9.881 0.432 17.300 YES NO V18430017 140.839 29.3553 0.345 21.800 YES NO V34847003 285-5 0.457 18.600 YES NO V14344009 284.878 12.4087 0.555 19.200 YES NO V34712003 213.385-29.4749 0.457 22.250 YES NO V20185002 277.666 48.577 0.471 19.700 YES NO V28971012 253.54 8.3537 0.481 18.000 YES NO V20610007 256.068 37.58 0.202 0.500 yes no V15211001 142.422-3.703 1.338 9.000 yes no V05275020 153.542 24.045 0.556 11.000 yes no V15893005 262.906-44.178 0.030 0.700 yes no V17653003 257.976-7.592 2.736 18.000 yes no V16592001 264.608-4.899 3.500 15.000 yes no V09429001 54.365-7.621 2.557 15.000 yes no V1603001 276.696-4.707 2.967 15.000 yes no V08803007 288.047 18.15 0.946 7.000 yes no V12025004 226.025 38.518 2.167 50.000 yes no V34832002 355.125-5.625 160.000 1.840 Yes No V02547010 341.281 2.852 2.396 14.100 Yes No V18007058 98.838 5.945 0.668 12.600 Yes No V12124006 248.141 28.785 0.864 10.600 Yes No V08267009 266.777 22.7833 96.000 2.390 Yes No V13932009 292.1445 22.7505 2.800 22.110 Yes No V27635023 281.843 45.09 1.050 40.000 Yes No V11422007 336.383 9.787 3.800 27.500 Yes No V27735020 276.996 46.016 0.100 0.400 Yes No V10177001 277.199 7.213 3.500 30.000 Yes No V11417008 122.3164 21.3887 1.250 1.130 Yes No V01742008 157.881 9.91031 4.600 1.580 Yes No V07709012 157.551 9.9977 1.540 0.620 Yes No V15211001 142.5-3.621 1.364 8.300 No Yes V18995009 43.02 39.395 0.665 7.500 No Yes V19119009 31.369 65.07 0.905 11.000 No Yes V03921003 316.579 2.911 2.262 12.500 no yes V05543012 341.375 2.695 2.099 15.100 no yes
V05543012 341.375 2.695 2.099 15.100 no yes V03921003 316.625 2.786 1.914 13.010 no yes V13732005 301.313 20.99 1.250 7.500 no yes V11573007 301.962 20.667 0.171 1.000 no yes V31309020 106.64 9.775 4.890 4.000 no yes V0569019 302.66 20.766 0.534 14.000 no yes V10813005 266.734 22.664 0.217 3.300 no yes V07994028 140.8193 23.8389 0.960 3.500 NO YES V07245001 246.218-0.8995 0.062 0.240 NO YES V28213016 161.083 7.9867 0.257 0.660 NO YES V0709012 157.881 9.91 0.334 18.400 NO YES V05250024 153.68 24.371 0.245 17.600 NO YES V05849022 158.082 10.039 0.379 18.100 NO YES V05072015 249.254 26.5643 0.231 16.800 NO YES V14573022 160.301 10.0756 0.194 19.000 NO YES V26777007 213.385-29.4749 0.584 17.900 NO YES V29457008 278.735 45.9586 0.389 18.600 NO YES V10388011 292.228 44.4515 0.404 18.700 NO YES V21334012 246.719 7.98 0.150 17.800 NO YES V03815003 136.34 26.268 0.653 1.250 no yes V3482002 355.121-5.767 61.000 1.750 no yes V18252007 255.34-29.221 1.380 2.250 no yes V17651026 290.761 23.516 0.247 2.250 no yes V08803007 288.047 18.15 0.096 0.700 no yes V17651026 190.639 23.596 0.215 2.250 no yes V15232005 254.406-21.479 4.600 22.000 No Yes A fissure that we located has an image identification number of V27565021 with a longitude of 138.148 and a latitude of 25.75. The depth of the fissure was 2.256 kilometer and the width was 8.5 kilometers. The fissure was a tension crack in the Elysium region. Another fissure had the image identification number of V06399022 with a
longitude of 138.034 and a latitude of 20.441. The depth of the fissure was.500 kilometers and a width of 4.5 kilometers. The fissure was a tension crack in the Elysium region. Discussion There were many cracks in the Tharsis region as well as graben. This might be because of the volcanoes in the area. The magma tubes might have been struck by the cracks and caused the cracks around the volcanoes. When tension cracks hit a magma tube they collapse and look like a chain. The data was inaccurate because we didn't record the exact amount of tension cracks. Plus some people didn't change kilometers to meters. We could have recorded some kilometers as meters. We could have recorded the wrong data while we were observing. Further Discussion With the help from the scientist at the Mars research center, we discovered that the age of the volcano does not effect the amount of tension cracks or grabens near the volcano. Heres the longitude and latitude of some tension cracks and grabens: 1. 256.895E, 14.707 Tension Crack Young Volcano 2. 231.762E, 25.904 Graben Young Volcano 3. 245.461E, 38.895 Tension Old Volcano 4. 256.088E, 37.846 -Tension Crack Old Volcano 5. 221.018E, 25.789 Tension Crack Young Volcano 6. Conclusions Higher elevation cracks are deeper and wider than lower elevation crack. Grabens will be wider and Tension Cracks will be deeper at higher elevations. More Tension Cracks will be found in the Tharsis Region. Higher elevation cracks are deeper and wider than lower elevation crack. Grabens will be wider and Tension Cracks will be deeper at higher elevations. More Tension Cracks will be found in the Tharsis Region. Only one hypothesis was supported, and that was more Tension Cracks will be found in the Tharsis Region. Some future work that could be done is to, capture more images so we can observe how much more width than depth, or depth than width, in each region. Some more future work is to, be able to convert the units correctly. Because some units were moved to the left only two times, when it should be moved three. We would like to acknowledge the people for taking the time out of their busy day, to help us at Mars: Chris Edward, Jessica Swann, Ali Rutledge, John Hill, Meg Hufford, Mr. And Mrs. Kopplin, Mr. Lopez, Mr. Bernasconi, Mrs. Chiaradonna, and Ms. Whalen! References Christensen, P.R., B.M. Jakosky, H.H. Kieffer, M.C. Malin, H.Y. McSween, Jr., K. Nealson, G.L. Mehall, S.H. Silverman, S. Ferry, M. Caplinger, and M. Ravine, The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) for the Mars 2001 Odyssey Mission, Space Science Reviews, 110, 85-130, 2004. Edwards, Chris. 2011
Hill, John. 2011 Hufford, Meg. 2011 Rutledge, Alicia. 2011 Swann, Jessica. 2011 JMARS Program