Science Opportunities - Basic Research Opportunities in Earth Science - page 77

need to investigate the samples for a tremendous diversity of purposes, place a
new and extremely strict requirement for high-efficiency analyses. In addition,
many types of analyses will require extremely high spatial resolution. For a
FIGURE 2.18 Clues to the ancient magnetic field of Mars from the Mars Global
Surveyor spacecraft. This image documents the strength and variability of
magnetization recorded by Martian crustal rocks. The pattern indicates the
existence of an Earth-like planetary dynamo operating in the Martian core, but
only very early in the history of the planet. The alternating polarity pattern
records fundamental, yet previously unknown aspects of the formation of the
early Martian crust, possibly by a process similar to seafloor spreading on Earth.
SOURCE: Reprinted with permission from J.E.P. Connerney, M.H. Acuna, P.J.
Wasilewski, N.F. Ness, H. Reme, C. Mazelle, D. Vignes, R.P. Lin, D.L.
Mitchell, and P.A. Cloutier, Magnetic lineations in the ancient crust of Mars,
Science, v. 284, p. 794-798, 1999. Copyright 1999 American Association for the
Advancement of Science.