Landform Evolution Modelling of Volcanic Landforms using Landlab: A case study of Olympus Mons

 Landscape Evolution Models (LEM) play a vital role in illustrating the complex landscape
responses to various geomorphic processes. These models favour replicating various evolution
processes over an extensive range of temporal and spatial scales. LEMs are also suitable for
simulating the effect of volcanic activity on landscape features. Olympus Mons, the largest
shield volcano in our solar system, acts as the perfect landform for this analysis. Tharsis
Volcanic Landforms on Mars, such as Olympus Mons and Tharsis Montes, are considered
analogues of basaltic shield volcanoes on Earth. The shield volcanoes of Tharsis are compared
to terrestrial Hawaiian volcanoes and Deccan volcanism and are often interpreted as hotspot
plume volcanism. The stream power incision model (SPIM) is used in landscape evolution
models to simulate river incisions. In this study, we utilised LandLab software to perform
numerical evolution modelling on Olympus Mons. The initial topography of the research
region is established using a DEM, and the maximum elevation of Olympus Mons is 21241.0
metres. The erodibility (Ksp) value, based on the lithological and climatic conditions, is taken
as 1 𝑀𝑎– ¹ under Hawaiian conditions considering the basaltic type rock property of Olympus
mons. With a concavity index value of 0.5 and zero upliftment, the model is run for 100000
years to observe its evolution. Our results reveal a change in the maximum elevation of 21241.0
to 21179.68, i.e., 124 m, due to the process of erosion. The results give an idea about how the
original volcanic landform, like that of Hawaii, must have shaped into the present landform
due to various geomorphic factors.