Changes

The most formidable current problem that Mars poses for uniformitarians today is that its magnetic field is weak and inconsequential, while a planet (Mercury) of little more than half its weight does have a significant magnetic field. According to current theory, planets derive their magnetic fields by dynamo action. This requires fast rotation and liquid cores. Mars and Earth have comparable sidereal days, but Earth's magnetic field is strong enough to protect Earth from the [[solar wind]], while that of Mars is not. Mercury has a far longer sidereal day than Mars has, and yet Mercury has a significant magnetic field while Mars has none.

The most formidable current problem that Mars poses for uniformitarians today is that its magnetic field is weak and inconsequential, while a planet (Mercury) of little more than half its weight does have a significant magnetic field. According to current theory, planets derive their magnetic fields by dynamo action. This requires fast rotation and liquid cores. Mars and Earth have comparable sidereal days, but Earth's magnetic field is strong enough to protect Earth from the [[solar wind]], while that of Mars is not. Mercury has a far longer sidereal day than Mars has, and yet Mercury has a significant magnetic field while Mars has none.

== Martian Geology ==

== Young Mars Creation model. ==

[[Image:Meridiani Planum.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Meridiani Planum region of Mars.]]

[[Image:Meridiani Planum.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Meridiani Planum region of Mars.]]

Discoveries by the [[Mars Excursion Rover]] ''Opportunity'' have led to a profound insight in the field of Martian geology. These discoveries combine with data from the rest of Mars to indicate massive geological catastrophes in the distant past.

Discoveries by the [[Mars Excursion Rover]] ''Opportunity'' have led to a Young Mars Creation model of Martian geology. These discoveries combine with data from the rest of Mars to indicate a massive Martian catastrophe.

Since ''Opportunity'' landed in the Meridiani Planum region of Mars it has sent back findings showing that the area was once underwater and that the water was very acidic. The entire Meridiani Planum region has much evidence of catastrophic flooding, including a clear inlet channel to the southeast and a splash zone in the north. In addition, there are many locations, particularly in the Valles Marineris area, where aquifiers seem to have burst, causing extreme flooding and erosion at several times in Mars' past.

Since ''Opportunity'' landed in the Meridiani Planum region of Mars it has sent back findings showing that the area was once underwater and that the water was very acidic. This high concentration of [[sulfuric acid]] militates against this being a habitable sea. The entire Meridiani Planum region has much evidence of catastrophic flooding, including a clear inlet channel to the southeast and a splash zone in the north.

Mars contains the largest of three major geologic features in the Solar System. The largest impact basin, the largest volcanoes and the largest canyon are all found on Mars and in a clear relationship to each other. This relationship provides the key to understanding Martian geology.

Mars contains the largest of three major geologic features in the Solar System. The largest impact basin, the largest volcanoes and the largest canyon are all found on Mars and in a clear relationship to each other. This relationship provides the key to understanding Martian geology.

[[Image:Mars topography.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Mars' global topography, and the relationship between the Hellas impact basin and the Tharsis volcanoes.]]Mars’ largest impact basin is called Hellas. As shown in the topography map, on exactly the other side of Mars from Hellas is Mount Alba Patera, the largest volcano by surface area. This antipodal juxtaposition suggests that the Hellas impact caused the eruptions of Alba Patera and the volcanoes of the Tharsis plateau to the south and southwest. To the east is found the gigantic rift valley called Valles Marineris.  

[[Image:Mars topography.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Mars' global topography, and the relationship between the Hellas impact basin and the Tharsis volcanoes.]]Mars’ largest impact basin is called Hellas. As shown in the topography map, on exactly the other side of Mars from Hellas is Mount Alba Patera, the largest volcano by surface area. This antipodal juxtaposition suggests that the Hellas impact caused the eruptions of Alba Patera and the volcanoes of the Tharsis plateau to the south and southwest. To the east is found the gigantic rift valley called Valles Marineris.  

Most of the giant volcanoes on Mars are situated on the [[Tharsis Bulge]], a region where the magma below the crust was subject to a relatively high pressure, causing these volcanoes. Because Mars does not have [[plate tectonics]], the crust is not recycled, so the volcanoes have been able to grow a lot larger than they could on Earth, where a select area of crust is recycled on an average of a few hundred million years. The Tharsis volcanoes have been growing for billion of years, though they are thought to be currently dormant.

These relationships indicate a major geologic catastrophe on Mars resulting in massive volcanic activity. The dating of this event from craters places it at about the time of the [[Great Flood]] on [[Earth]]. This volcanic activity would have increased Mars’s atmospheric pressure to allow liquid water to flow on the surface and thus allow the flooding of the Meridiani Planum region.

The Hellas Basin is another profound geological feature. This is a huge impact basin, likely caused by a large meteor. This is dwarfed by the Vastitas Borealis basin, which covers most of the northern hemisphere, which formed from an impact just after Mars' turbulent formation. It is thought that this was once a site of an ocean, in Mars' distant past. <ref>http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/allaboutmars/</ref>

This shows that, like Earth, Mars has evidence that it is only a few thousands of years old and not 4.6 billion years old.<ref name=creager>Creager, Charles, Jr. "[http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/arj/v1/n1/mars-testament-catastrophe Mars, a Testament to Catastrophe]." ''Answers Research Journal'' 1 (2008): 89–93. Accessed September 23, 2008.</ref>

== Mars in popular culture ==

== Mars in popular culture ==