Balme, M. R.

Conway, S. J.

Grindrod, P. M.

English

Open Research Online (The Open University)

Open Research OnlineThe Open University’s repository of research publicationsand other research outputsUsing topographic derivatives of high resolution dataon Earth and Mars to determine active processes onMarsConference or Workshop ItemHow to cite:Conway, S. J.; Balme, M. R. and Grindrod, P. M. (2012). Using topographic derivatives of high resolutiondata on Earth and Mars to determine active processes on Mars. In: European Geosciences Union General Assembly2012, 22-27 Apr 2012, Vienna, Austria.For guidance on citations see FAQs.c© 2012 The AuthorsVersion: Version of RecordLink(s) to article on publisher’s website:http://www.egu2012.eu/Copyright and Moral Rights for the articles on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyrightowners. For more information on Open Research Online’s data policy on reuse of materials please consult the policiespage.oro.open.ac.ukGeophysical Research AbstractsVol. 14, EGU2012-9258, 2012EGU General Assembly 2012© Author(s) 2012Using Topographic Derivatives of High Resolution Data on Earth andMars to Determine Active Processes on Mars.S. J. Conway (1), M. R. Balme (2), and P. M. Grindrod (3)(1) LPGN, CNRS/Univ. Nantes, 44322 Nantes, France. , (2) PSSRI, Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK., (3)University College London, Gower Street, London. susan.conway@univ-nantes.frOne of the severest problems in the field of martian geomorphology is that of convergence of form (i.e. thatdissimilar processes can produce similar looking landforms). Since the discovery of recently formed km-scalegullies [1] on the martian surface, debate has raged about whether these features formed by dry mass wasting,fluidisation by CO2 gas, debris flow, unconcentrated water/brine flow, or by other, exotic processes. This is animportant distinction, because if these gullies are found to be formed by water, which is currently unstable atthe martian surface, then a mechanism has to be found to produce this water, and this has ramifications for ourunderstanding of martian climate and hydrology.We approach this problem by studying newly available high resolution (∼ 1 m/pix) elevation models de-rived from stereo HiRISE (High Resolution Science Imaging Experiment) image pairs and comparing them toLiDAR datasets of analogous features on Earth. We have used hydrological topographic indices such as slope-area[e.g., 2], contributing area distribution [3] and the downslope index [4] to characterise slopes with known processeson Earth. We characterised slopes dominated by rockfall, debris flow and fluvial erosion. We then apply thesesame analysis techniques to gullied slopes on Mars and find that these slopes have a signal of both debris flow andfluvial processes. This suggests that Mars’ recent climate has recently been more amenable to the existence ofliquid water than has previously been assumed.References: [1] Malin M. C. and Edgett K. S. (2000) Science, 288, 2330-2335. [2] Stock and Dietrich(2003) Water Resour. Res., 39, doi:10.1029/2001WR001057. [3] McNamara et al. (2006) Forest Ecology andManagement, 224, 147-156. [4] Hjerdt et al. (2004) Water Resour. Res., 40, doi:10.1029/2004WR003130.

Using topographic derivatives of high resolution data on Earth and Mars to determine active processes on Mars

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Using topographic derivatives of high resolution data on Earth and Mars to determine active processes on Mars

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