Brain terrain

Brain terrain, also called knobs-brain coral and brain coral terrain, is a feature of the Martian surface, consisting of complex ridges found on lobate debris aprons, lineated valley fill and concentric crater fill. It is so named because it suggests the ridges on the surface of the human brain. Wide ridges are called ''closed-cell'' brain terrain, and the less common narrow ridges are called ''open-cell'' brain terrain.Levy, J., J. Head, D. Marchant. 2009. Concentric crater fill in Utopia Planitia: History and interaction between glacial “brain terrain” and periglacial mantle processes. Icarus 202, 462–476. It is thought that the wide closed-cell terrain contains a core of ice, and when the ice disappears the center of the wide ridge collapses to produce the narrow ridges of the open-cell brain terrain. Shadow measurements from HiRISE indicate the ridges are 4-5 meters high. Brain terrain has been observed to form from what has been called an " Upper Plains Unit." The process begins with the formation of stress cracks. The upper plains unit fell from the sky as snow and as ice coated dust.Baker, D., J. Head. 2015. Extensive Middle Amazonian mantling of debris aprons and plains in Deuteronilus Mensae, Mars: Implication for the record of mid-latitude glaciation. Icarus: 260, 269-288.

However, not all the details of brain terrain formation has been worked out. Brain terrain remains as one of the unsolved mysteries on Mars because we do not totally understand it.

Today it is widely accepted that glacier-like forms, lobate debris aprons, lineated valley fill, and concentric fill are all related in that they have the same surface texture. Glacier-like forms in valleys and cirque-like alcoves may coalesce with others to produce lobate debris aprons. When opposing lobate debris aprons converge, linear valley fill results. They probably all contain ice-rich material.

Many of these features are found in the Northern hemisphere in parts of a boundary called the Martian dichotomy, mostly between 0 and 70 E longitudes. Near this area are regions that are named from ancient places: Deuteronilus Mensae, Protonilus Mensae, and Nilosyrtis Mensae.

Lobate debris aprons, lineated valley fill, and concentric fill probably have dirt and rock debris covering huge deposits of ice.Head, J., et al. 2006. Modification if the dichotomy boundary on Mars by Amazonian mid-latitude regional glaciation. Geophys. Res Lett. 33

45507 2200brains.jpg, Brain terrain, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Location is Ismenius Lacus quadrangle.

Image:Coloe Fossae Lineated Valley Fill.JPG, Lineated valley fill in Coloe Fossae, as seen by HiRISE. Scale bar is 500 meters long. Location is Ismenius Lacus quadrangle.

File:25246brainseroding.jpg, Closed-cell brain terrain, as seen by HiRISE under the HiWish program. This type of surface is common on lobate debris aprons, concentric crater fill, and lineated valley fill.
GtalkESP 023815 2215braincontext.jpg, Context picture showing origin of next picture. The location is a region of lineated valley fill. Image from HiRISE under HiWish program.
File:Htalk23815 2215lvfclose.jpg, Open and closed-cell brain terrain, as seen by HiRISE, under HiWish program.

ESP 042105 2235brainsforming.jpg, Brain terrain being formed from a thicker layer, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program. Arrows show the thicker unit breaking up into small cells.
44229 2235brainsforming.jpg, Brain terrain is forming from the breakdown of upper plains unit, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Arrow points to a place where fractures are forming that will turn into brain terrain.
44229 2235brainsupper.jpg, Brain terrain is forming from the breakdown of upper plains unit, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Arrow points to a place where fractures are forming that will turn into brain terrain.

ESP 042778 2225brain.jpg, Possible glacier surrounded by brain terrain, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program

ESP 045349 2235brains.jpg, Wide view of brain terrain being formed, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program
45349 2235brainsforming4.jpg, Brain terrain being formed, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Note: this is an enlargement of previous image using HiView.
45349 2235brainsforming3.jpg, Brain terrain being formed, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Note: this is an enlargement of a previous image using HiView.
45349 2235brainsforming2.jpg, Brain terrain being formed, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Note: this is an enlargement of a previous image using HiView. Arrows indicate spots where brain terrain is beginning to form.

ESP 045363 2190brain.jpg, Wide view of brain terrain being formed, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program
45363 2190brainsforming.jpg, Brain terrain being formed, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Note: this is an enlargement of the previous image using HiView.
45363 2190brainsforming2.jpg, Brain terrain being formed, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Note: this is an enlargement of a previous image using HiView.

45917 2220openclosedbrains.jpg, Open and closed brain terrain with labels, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Image location is Ismenius Lacus quadrangle.

45917 2220brainsopenclosed.jpg, Open and closed brain terrain with labels, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Image location is Ismenius Lacus quadrangle.

45917 2220brainsforming.jpg, Brain terrain being formed, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Image location is Ismenius Lacus quadrangle.

46075 2200brainsforming.jpg, Brain terrain being formed, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Arrows point to locations where the brain terrain is starting to form. Image location is Ismenius Lacus quadrangle.

See also

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References

{{Geography of Mars, geology
Surface features of Mars