Mars's Chaos Terrain: A Landscape Unlike Any on Earth
Martian chaos terrain
Mars has vast regions of chaotic terrain, where jumbled blocks and deep valleys suggest catastrophic floods. Scientists estimate these channels formed 2.0 to 3.8 billion years ago, likely when underground water burst forth in massive releases. Theories range from sudden melting of ground ice to gradual sublimation, and the terrain may still harbor water ice today.
Because so many large channels seem to originate from chaotic terrain, it is widely believed that chaos terrain is caused by water coming out of the ground in the form of massive floods.
- ozyschmozy
I've been reading the Mars trilogy (by Kim Stanley Robinson) after it was recommended on an HN thread a while back, and it's been on my mind to look into what the "chaos" was. Pretty neat
- tokai
I'm surprised that we do not have any chaos terrain on Earth. Can't find any explanation why. We have had large sudden flood events on Earth, but maybe weathering orders the 'chaos' over time?