Ice or liquid water in the Martian regolith. Morphologic indicators from rampart craters

摘要

The morphology of ejecta blankets around certain Martian craters carries implications for volatiles in either the Martian crust or the atmosphere or both. The evidence that rampart crater ejecta can be used to infer the physical condition of volatiles in target rocks at the time of impact is reviewed. It was concluded that ice, and not liquid water, was the main volatile state, although rare examples also suggest the presence of liquid water at the time the craters were formed.