Hermean curvature-based geomorphic feature classification using Laser Altimetry data

This study introduces an automated method for extracting and tracking geomorphic features on Mercury by leveraging high-resolution Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) generated from MESSENGER’s Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA) data (Cavanaugh et al., 2007). The DTMs are produced using a robust RANSAC-based region-growing technique, ensuring detailed and accurate terrain representation of Mercurian landscapes (Arghavanian, et al., 2024). Feature identification begins with principal curvature analysis of the DTMs to detect key geomorphic structures such as valleys and ridges (Besl, 1988), (Richards, 2013). To enhance classification accuracy and minimize false positives, particularly in complex volcanic terrains the algorithm integrates morphological parameters (Byrne, et al., 2013), (Du, et al., 2020), including solidity and width-to-length ratios. Cross-sectional profiles are then extracted along local directions of maximum curvature, utilizing an adaptive section length (or ‘bandwidth’) to optimize feature validation. Each cross section undergoes thorough analysis to confirm geomorphic interpretations and refine feature delineation (Arghavanian& Leloglu, 2024). Application of this algorithm to volcanic regions on Mercury demonstrates its efficiency and reliability in planetary geomorphic feature classification, contributing to a deeper understanding of Mercurian surface processes.

References:

Arghavanian A., Stenzel O., Hilchenbach M., 2024, Smooth Hermean surface extraction by region growing from Messenger Laser Altimeter Data, EPSC 2024 conference, Berlin, Germany.

Arghavanian A. & Leloğlu U. M., 2024. Extraction and classification of channels from LiDAR in plains by channel tracking. Environmental Modelling and Software, Volume 171, p. 105838.

Besl P. J., 1988. Surfaces in Range Image Understanding. 1th ed. New York, USA.: Springer.

Byrne P. K., Klimczak C., Williams D. A., Hurwitz D. M., Solomon S. C., James W. Head, Preusker F., Oberst J., 2013, An assemblage of lava flow features on Mercury, Journal Of Geophysical Research: Planets, VOL. 118, 1303–1322, doi:10.1002/jgre.20052.

Cavanaugh J.F. et al. (2007) ‘The Mercury Laser Altimeter Instrument for the MESSENGER Mission’, Space Science Reviews, 131(1), pp. 451–479. Available at: doi.org/10.1007/s11214-007-9273-4.

Du J., Wieczorek M. A., Fa W., 2020, Thickness of lava flows within the northern smooth plains on Mercury as estimated by partially buried craters, Geophysical Research Letters, 10.1029/2020GL090578

Richards, J. A., 2013. Remote Sensing Digital Image Analysis. 5th ed. Canberra, Australia: springer.