Space/Science — HabitableZone

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

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

I don't think that viscous fingering is a complete theory at this point. If the materials are similar all over the ice cap then it is likely similar viscous fingering would form everywhere though. However I note you have no evidence that discharges would produce these patterns exactly the same each time on Mars. Also that conditions for such discharges ever existed. For example with polar wander the poles may have been in a different position when the magnetic field was active.
Further, there are few examples of electrical discharges making this pattern on Earth, particularly with actual ravines. So since this phenomena is rare on Earth on what basis are you suggesting that it should not only be common, but also the only kind of discharge on Mars?
What does this phenomena have to do with the South Pole, why couldn't it occur anywhere? One possiblity is that sublimating CO2 create a static electricity buildup, but then this happens on the North Pole too, as well as around dust devils, but no spiders in those places.
Blackening is not associated with spiders, in my experience the two "avoid" each other. I have never seen a dark spot associated with the core of a spider, if you have a counter example I would like to see it. In fact this mutual exclusion is probably a clue to spider formation.
Since these discharges don't cut into the ground, then how come virtually every spider has ravines? What caused them? One might make a case that the heat from the discharge sublimated the CO2 there though.
What you need to do is take all the points both for *and* against your theory and make a web page or paper on them. Trying to make a discovery is not like being on a debating team where you ignore all the negative aspects of your theory. If there are valid problems with it you need to list those and honestly say what answers you have or don't have. If you don't do that mainstream science will just ignore your idea. Admittedly in my experience they would just plagiarize it if you were right anyway though.
If you do a good enough job scientifically I am happy to link to it on the martianspiders web site and let people read it that way.

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