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Grid Mapping the Northern Plains of Mars: A New Overview of Recent Water‐ and Ice‐Related Landforms in Acidalia Planitia
Author(s) -
Orgel Csilla,
Hauber Ernst,
Gasselt Stephan,
Reiss Dennis,
Johnsson Andreas,
Ramsdale Jason D.,
Smith Isaac,
Swirad Zuzanna M.,
Séjourné Antoine,
Wilson Jack T.,
Balme Matthew R.,
Conway Susan J.,
Costard Francois,
Eke Vince R.,
Gallagher Colman,
Kereszturi Ákos,
Łosiak Anna,
Massey Richard J.,
Platz Thomas,
Skinner James A.,
Teodoro Luis F. A.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: planets
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9100
pISSN - 2169-9097
DOI - 10.1029/2018je005664
Subject(s) - geology , landform , mars exploration program , impact crater , geomorphology , regolith , martian , geophysics , earth science , astrobiology , physics
We used a grid‐mapping technique to analyze the distribution of 13 water‐ and ice‐related landforms in Acidalia Planitia as part of a joint effort to study the three main basins in the northern lowlands of Mars, that is, Acidalia, Utopia, and Arcadia Planitiae. The landforms were mapped at full Context Camera resolution along a 300‐km‐wide strip from 20°N to 84°N. We identified four landform assemblages: (1) Geologically recent polar cap (massive ice), which superposes the latitude‐dependent mantle (LDM) (LA1); (2) ice‐related landforms, such as LDM, textured terrain, small‐scale polygons, scalloped terrain, large‐scale viscous flow features, and gullies, which have an overlapping distribution (LA2); (3) surface features possibly related to water and subsurface sediment mobilization (LA3; kilometer‐scale polygons, large pitted mounds, small pitted mounds, thumbprint terrain); and (4) irregularly shaped pits with raised rims on equator‐facing slopes. Pits are likely the result of an energetic release of volatiles (H 2 O, CO 2 , and CH 4 ), rather than impact‐, volcanism‐, or wind‐related processes. LDM occurs ubiquitously from 44°N to 78°N in Acidalia Planitia. Various observations suggest an origin of air fall deposition of LDM, which contains less ice in the uppermost tens of meters in Acidalia Planitia than in Arcadia and Utopia Planitiae. However, LDM may be thicker and more extended in the past in Acidalia Planitia. The transition between LDM‐free terrain and LDM is situated further north than in Utopia and Arcadia Planitiae, suggesting different past and/or present climatic conditions among the main basins in the northern lowlands.