The geomorphology of glacial landscapes on Mars

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Specific objectives:To document and map the landforms and landscapes in Promethei Terra and Deuteronilus Mensae and to assess the case for their formation by wet-based or cold-based glacial processes.To assess whether the Hubbard et al. (2011) model for the formation and movement of glacier-like forms applies to other regions on Mars.This project will examine glacial landscapes on Mars. It will focus on two study regions that reflect some of the most important discoveries of the last 10 years, namely: 1) observations of geologically recent glacial landforms in the mid- to low-latitudes that indicate significant deposition and mobility of ice or ice-rich material (Souness et al. 2012, Milliken et al. 2003); 2) Gamma ray and Neutron Spectrometer data showing high concentration of extant near-surface in certain mid- to low-latitude areas of Mars (Feldman et al. 2011). Taken together, these results suggest a dynamic recent climate, with the role of water in both the solid and liquid state being key. The first area of study will be the mid-latitude region of Promethei Terra, which shows spectral evidence of anomalously high quantities of near-surface water-ice, and contains viscous flow features that closely resemble terrestrial rock-glaciers, as well as possible fluvioglacial landforms. The second area of study will be the mid to high latitude area of Deuteronilus Mensae, which, in contrast to Promethei Terra, is not associated with spectral evidence of water ice, but has abundant evidence of glacier like forms (Squyres 1979, Morgan et al. 2009). A key element of this project will be to investigate and map the meter/decametre scale geomorphology of these areas and to determine whether the spectral signature of high water-ice content has a morphological counterpart. A second aspect of this project could incorporate glacial flow modelling to constrain the duration of activity and amount of debris on these features, or remotely sensed Earth analogue work, depending on the strengths and preferences of the candidate.Specific training will include the use of GIS in planetary data contexts, construction of digital terrain models from orbital and aerial images, planetary mapping techniques and general concepts in martian geomorphology/geology.