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Our knowledge of Mars has grown enormously over the last decade as a result of the Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, and the two Mars Rover missions. The Surface of Mars is a systematic summary of what we have learnt about the geological evolution of Mars as a result of these missions. It describes the diverse Martian surface features and summarizes current ideas as to how, when, and under what conditions they formed, and explores how Earth and Mars differ and why the two planets evolved so differently. The author also discusses possible implications of the geologic history for the origin and survival of indigenous Martian life. Up-to-date and highly illustrated, The Surface of Mars will be a principal reference for researchers and graduate students in planetary science. The comprehensive list of references will also assist readers in pursuing further information on the subject.
1. Introduction
2. Overview
3. Impact craters
4. Volcanism
5. Global structure and tectonics
6. Canyons
7. Channels, valleys and gullies
8. Lakes and oceans
9. Ice
10. Wind
11. Poles
12. The view from the surface
13. Climate change
14. Implications for life
15. Summary
Index
Michael Carr is a Geologist Emeritus at the U.S. Geological Survey, and has over 40 years' experience of planetary science research. In the early 1970s Dr Carr was a member of the Mariner 9 team and leader of the Viking Orbiter team. He was co-investigator on the Mars Global Surveyor, the Mars Exploration Rovers and the High Resolution Stereo Camera on Mars Express. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, the American Geophysical Union and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and was awarded the 1994 National Air and Space Museum Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on Mars. He is also the author of The Surface of Mars (1981) and Water on Mars (1996).
"Mike Carr, Geologist Emeritus at the US Geological Survey, has participated in virtually all those missions and has probably seen more Mars imagery than anyone; no one is more qualified to write this book. [...] Astronomy has now abdicated much of the solar system to geology, and no geoscientist with an interest in the revolution should be without a copy."
– Journal of Geology
