Thumbprint terrain in the northern lowlands of Mars: Assessment of its modes of formation and relations to the Mars ocean

我们研究的主要目标是使用中等分辨率的图像，例如THEMIS-IR(白天和夜间的分辨率都是100米/像素)，系统地搜索、定位和绘制整个火星北半球内的所有指纹地形(TPT)。到目前为止，TPT的唯一地图是洛克伍德等人的地图。[1992]根据海盗号图像编制(标称分辨率为~225 m/x)。现代图像(例如，THEMIS-IR白天)与较旧的维京数据相比，具有更高的质量和覆盖范围。这一系统的TPT填图的结果为检验这类地形的地层模型和北部低地内水/泥储层的演化提供了必要的基础。这项研究的首要成果将是描述TPT产状的地质背景和地层学特征。这一天气图还将有助于确定可利用高分辨率图像测试TPT地层和构造细节的关键区域。我们的研究旨在解决以下科学问题，这些问题对于理解TPT的性质具有关键意义，并且与火星海洋假说和以前的水/泥体的各个方面密切相关。TPT的特征形态是否代表了不同的形成模式？可以制定什么标准来区分TPT地层的冰川(例如，冰芯冰雹)和泥火山模式？是否有不同来源的TPT的证据？关于TPT在每个特定地区的起源，有什么可以告诉我们的发展标准？在火星的哪些区域，TPT的形成与冰川或泥火山过程有关，或者两者都有？

The primary goal of our study is a systematic search, location, and mapping of all occurrences of the thumbprint terrain (TPT) within the entire northern hemisphere of Mars using medium-resolution images, e.g., THEMIS-IR (both day- and nighttime, resolution is 100 m/px). So far, the only map of the TPT is the one by Lockwood et al. [1992] compiled on the base of the Viking images (nominal resolution is ~225 m/x). The modern images (e.g., THEMIS-IR daytime) have a superior quality and coverage compared with the older Viking data. Results of this systematic TPT mapping represent a necessary basis to test formation models of this type of terrain and evolution of the water/mud reservoir within the northern lowlands. The first-order results of this study will be the characterization of the geological settings and stratigraphy of the occurrences of the TPT. This synoptic mapping will also allow identification of the key areas in which details of TPT stratigraphy and structure can be tested with use of the high-resolution images. Our study is aimed to address the following scientific questions that have key importance for the understanding of the nature of the TPT and that are closely related to various aspects of the Martian ocean hypothesis and former water/mud bodies. Are the characteristic morphologies of the TPT representing different modes of formation? What sets criteria can be developed to distinguish the glacial (e.g., ice-cored moraines) and mud volcanism mode of the TPT formation? Is there evidence for the TPT of different origin? What tell us the developed criteria about the origin of the TPT in each specific region? In which regions of Mars is TPT formation related to either glacial, or mud volcanic processes, or both?