Lobate debris apron
geological features on Mars
Lobate debris aprons (LDAs) are geological features on Mars, first seen by the Viking Orbiters, consisting of piles of rock debris below cliffs. These features have a convex topography and a gentle slope from cliffs or escarpments, which suggest flow away from the steep source cliff. In addition, lobate debris aprons can show surface lineations as do rock glaciers on the Earth.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's Shallow Radar gave a strong reflection from the top and base of LDAs, meaning that pure water ice made up the bulk of the formation (between the two reflections). This is evidence that the LDAs in Hellas Planitia are glaciers covered with a thin layer of rocks. In addition, radar studies in Deuteronilus Mensae show that all lobate debris aprons examined in that region contain ice.
Analysis of SHARAD data led researchers to conclude that Lobate debris aprons (LDA's) are over 80% pure ice. The paper authors examined five different sites from around the planet and all showed high levels of pure water ice.
Because of the high purity of the ice content that was found, the authors argued that the formation of glaciers happened by atmospheric precipitation or direct condensation. After glaciers were formed there was a time when enhanced sublimation formed a lag layer or promoted the accumulation of dry debris atop the water ice glacier.
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