Volcanoes

Volcanoes on Mars

Twenty volcanoes have been identified on Mars. There are two major volcanic regions, Elysium and Tharsis. The largest volcano, Olympus Mons, is located in the Tharsis region.

TASK 5: Compare this image with the impact crater map of Mars and suggest why there are fewer impact craters in the volcanic regions.

Are volcanoes still active on Mars?

Above is an image of Olympus Mons and a detailed image of the volcanic cone with the ages of the different lava flows (estimated by counting the number of impact craters). The youngest lava flow is estimated to be about 140 million years ago, which scientists estimate was the last time a volcano erupted on Mars (dinosaurs were still roaming Earth).


Video link


Watch this video about Volcanoes on Mars and take notes about the following question - why did Mars lose its inner heat more quickly than Earth?

Volcanoes on Earth

This is a map of the active volcanoes on Earth. There are about 500 (almost twice as many if you count presently inactive volcanoes).

Watch the video and take notes about the following question: What two sources heat the Earth's interior?

From BBC2 Earth: Power of the Planets.

TASK 6: Answer the following questions.

  • Why did Mars lose its inner heat more quickly than Earth?

  • What two sources heat the Earth's interior?

Next we'll look at the interior structure of the Earth and Mars.