Why do scientists believe that the northern hemisphere of Mars is younger than the southern?
NORTHERN: made up largely of rolling volcanic plains NOT unlike the lunar maria (a lava flow feature). Much less cratered than the southern highlands. Due to smoother surface, most likely younger than SOUTHERN; 3 billion years old versus 4 billion years old in the south.
How do we know that the southern hemisphere of Mars is older than the northern hemisphere?
The abundance of buried craters that the radar has detected beneath Mars' smooth northern plains means the underlying crust of the northern hemisphere is extremely old, "perhaps as ancient as the heavily cratered highland crust in the southern hemisphere."
Which hemisphere of Mars is probably older?
Why is the southern hemisphere of Mars believed to be older than the northern? A: The southern hemisphere is more heavily cratered.
Is Mars southern hemisphere older?
The southern hemisphere is densely cratered and therefore older than the sparsely cratered northern hemisphere.
How is the northern hemisphere on Mars different from the southern?
The two hemispheres of Mars are dramatically different from each other—a characteristic not seen on any other planet in our solar system. Non-volcanic, flat lowlands characterize the northern hemisphere, while highlands punctuated by countless volcanoes extend across the southern hemisphere.
Why is the northern hemisphere of Mars flat?
The two hemispheres of Mars are more different from any other planet in our solar system. Non-volcanic, flat lowlands characterise the northern hemisphere, while highlands punctuated by countless volcanoes extend across the southern hemisphere.
What do you think could have caused the difference between the two hemispheres of Mars?
Thermal convection in the mantle As suggested by Zhong and Zuber (2001), there might have been strong convection in the mantle with a single convection cell. These models succeed in reproducing some differences between the two hemispheres.
How are the northern and southern hemispheres of Mars different?
The northern hemisphere of Mars is a flatland that is a normal temperature for Mars, where as the southern hemisphere is a volcanic highland. The north is cold and the south is extremely hot, or at least it was. Now the north is just flat, and the south is old inactive volcanoes.
What is the largest difference between Mars northern and southern hemispheres?
The largest difference between Mars' northern and southern hemispheres is that: the southern appears older, with more impact craters.
What is theorized to have happened to the northern hemisphere of Mars?
The most important theory about the origin of the Mars dichotomy was formulated by two American researchers in 1984 in an article in the journal Nature. They postulated that a large celestial object struck the Martian north pole. In 2008 a different team revived this idea and published it once again in Nature.
Why does Mars have two hemispheres?
The most important theory about the origin of the Mars dichotomy was formulated by two American researchers in 1984 in an article in the journal Nature. They postulated that a large celestial object struck the Martian north pole. In 2008 a different team revived this idea and published it once again in Nature.
Why are the northern and southern hemispheres of Mars different?
The dichotomy between the northern and southern hemispheres of Mars is retained in its leftover magnetism. The magnetic fields that have survived from the planet's active youth are located within the heavily cratered southern hemisphere, and the northern lowlands are now largely free of magnetism.
How are the north and south sections of the planet Mars different?
The north was flat and smooth. The south appeared rugged, dotted with craters and mountains. Another NASA spacecraft, the Mars Global Surveyor, later showed that the planet's crust is also thicker in the south than in the north.