The Tempe Fossae are a group of
troughs in the
Arcadia quadrangle of Mars, located at 40.2° north latitude and 71.4° west longitude. They are about 2,000 km long and were named after an
albedo feature at 40N, 70W.
The term "fossae" is used to indicate large troughs when using geographical terminology related to Mars. Troughs, sometimes also called
graben
In geology, a graben () is a depressed block of the crust of a planet or moon, bordered by parallel normal faults.
Etymology
''Graben'' is a loan word from German, meaning 'ditch' or 'trench'. The word was first used in the geologic contex ...
s, form when the crust is stretched until it breaks, which forms two breaks with a middle section moving down, leaving steep cliffs along the sides. Sometimes, a line of pits form as materials collapse into a void that forms from the stretching.
Grabens
In geology, a graben () is a depressed block of the crust of a planet or moon, bordered by parallel normal faults.
Etymology
''Graben'' is a loan word from German, meaning 'ditch' or 'trench'. The word was first used in the geologic contex ...
and horsts, as seen by Mars Express' High Resolution Stereo Camera.
Topographic view of Tempe Fossae on Mars ESA22014172.jpeg, Topographic view by HRSC
Northeast of Mars’ Tharsis province- Tempe Fossae in 3D ESA22014213.jpeg, 3D anaglyph by HRSC
Perspective view of Tempe Fossae on Mars ESA22014090.jpeg, Perspective view by HRSC
See also
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Fossa (geology)
In planetary nomenclature, a fossa (pl. fossae ) is a long, narrow depression (trough) on the surface of an extraterrestrial body, such as a planet or moon. The term, which means "ditch" or "trench" in Latin, is not a geological term as such bu ...
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Geology of Mars
The geology of Mars is the scientific study of the surface, crust, and interior of the planet Mars. It emphasizes the composition, structure, history, and physical processes that shape the planet. It is analogous to the field of terrestrial geo ...
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HiRISE
References
Valleys and canyons on Mars
Arcadia quadrangle
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