Morphological study of landforms in the Northern Polar Region of Mars

Abstract

This work focuses on the study of the characteristics and possible origin of distinct positive topographic landforms located in Scandia Cavi and Olympia Undae [1]. These are two regions close to the northern polar cap of Mars and which are of special interest because of the potential joint presence of volcanism, glacial processes and gypsum deposits which could be related to the past presence of liquid water there. Such processes can cast light on the geological evolution of the area.

We use images from Mars Express and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, as well as MOLA topographic profiles from Mars Global Surveyor to investigate 201 small and medium-size landforms in these two regions. These landforms have a priori similar characteristics, such as similar sizes and forms, but their origin might not be the same. A detailed analysis of images and morphometric parameters has allowed their classification into 6 groups, which are the so-called cratered cones, impact craters, ambiguous craters, simple and peaked domes, and irregular structures.

Different possible origins for these landforms are discussed such as impact, aeolian, glacial and volcanic processes. The possible implications for relationships between an available volcanic heat source nearby water ice and gypsum deposits make the area particularly interesting toward further constraining the region’s geology.

 

References

[1] Sánchez-Bayton et al., Morphological analyses of small and medium size landforms in Scandia Cavi and Olympia Undae, North Polar Region of Mars, under review at Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets