Schwenzer, S. P.; Abramov, O.; Allan, C. C.; Clifford, S. M.;
Cockell, C. S.; Filiberto, J. ; Kring, D. A.; Lasue, J.;
McGovern, P. J.; Newsom, H. E.; Treiman, A. H.; Vaniman, D. T.
and Wiens, R. C. Puncturing Mars: How impact craters interact
with the Martian cryosphere. Earth and Planetary Science
Letters, 335 (Click here to request a copy from the OU Author.
Geologic evidence suggests that the Martian surface and
atmospheric conditions underwent major changes in the late
Noachian, with a decline in observable water-related surface
features, suggestive of a transition to a dryer and colder
climate. Based on that assumption, we have modeled the
consequences of impacts into a ~2–6 km-thick cryosphere. We
calculate that medium-sized( few 10s of km diameter impact
craters can physically and/or thermally penetrate through this
cryosphere, creating liquid water through the melting of
subsurface ice in an otherwise dry and frozen environment. The
interaction of liquid water with the target rock produces
alteration