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Space/Science » in reply to re: active geyser vs passive spot

re: active geyser vs passive spot
Greg Orme — (archived)

Hi Michael,
I can see some problems with this idea. First the spiders are found in a narrow band around the pole, at a narrow range of latitudes. So it is likely they are related to temperature in some way. Second, there are no spiders on the North Pole, and an electric discharge should occur at both poles. The only difference I can see between the poles is that the north pole is currently colder in winter and warmer in summer. So it is likely the narrow temperature band that formed the spiders doesn't exist on the north pole.
This temperature band I believe is likely to have allowed liquid brines, and it may also be the spiders formed in the past when the south pole area was slightly warmer. Becauase of the low atmospheric pressure there might be a narrow range at which brines might have formed and stayed liquid long enough to form the spiders. Too close to the pole and the temperature is too cold for liquids. Too far away and it is too hot, the brines sublimated too fast. Another indication the spiders are related to temperature is their concentration in the Chasma Australe area, which is somewhat warmer than other areas at that latitude.
CO2 I believe is unlikely to be responsible because all over the pole CO2 sublimates, which does not correspond to a narrow band of spider formation. Since all parts get hot enough to sublimate the CO2 then why not the same geysers all over the pole as the spring progresses?
Also CO2 sublimates on the north pole as well, so why would CO2 form geysers and spiders on the south pole but never on the north pole?
Geysers also I believe cannot work to make spiders because the branches often go up and down slopes without regard for the force of gravity. So if CO2 was forcing its way through cracks across a slope then on the higher side of the crack the weight of the CO2 ice would be forcing the crack to close. So therefore such cracks should go more up and down a hill rather than across it.

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