From: Michael Tarbell <mtarbell.nul>
Date: Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:19:24 -0600
Fwd Date: Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:50:08 -0400
Subject: Re: Large Sink Holes On Mars? - Tarbell


>From: Nick Balaskas <Nikolaos.nul>
>To: UFO UpDates - Toronto <ufoupdates.nul>
>Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2007 09:53:38 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
>Subject: Large Sink Holes On Mars?

>Science/Astronomy:

>Today on SPACE.com
>June 6, 2007 12:36

>Deep Hole Found on Mars

>http://bcast1.imaginova.com/t?r=2&ctl=13603:4F746

<snip>

>The goal of this latest Mars mission is to "follow the water"
>which is believed to exist just below the surface of the Red
>Planet. Since sink holes found on Earth are created through
>erosion by water flowing just beneath the ground, this discovery
>is further evidence that Phoenix will locate the vast amounts of
>missing water that once filled the large basins and now dry lake
>beds on Mars.


Hi Nick,

Several of these 'holes' have recently been found on Mars. I was
struck by their remarkable circularity, but apparently this is a
common feature of sinkholes in karst topography on Earth. Here
is an example slightly larger than the Martian one above:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mexiculture/436515445/

Any liquid water or ice that was exposed in the Martian holes
should boil off or sublimate into the dry, low pressure
atmosphere. If that process were still ongoing, I should think
there would be visible evidence (e.g., a cloud plume) if any
substantial amount of water were involved. It still might be
worthwhile to check for excess water vapor in that area.

It would also be interesting to see these features from a more
oblique angle so as to determine if the walls are actually
undercut (i.e., 'steeper' than vertical), which the existing
view seems to suggest.


Mike



Listen to 'Strange Days... Indeed' - The PodCast

See:

http://www.virtuallystrange.net/ufo/sdi/program/