Ancient river systems on Mars: geological studies using high-resolution images and Digital Terrain Models

--利用最新的高分辨率图像和地形模型研究火星上的“逆流河道”(保存完好的古老河流系统)，目的是了解火星历史上与寻找过去生命迹象最相关的河流活动的时间和范围。-该项目将专注于火星的阿拉伯地区域--这是一个古老且严重退化的区域，包括两个候选的ExoMars火星车着陆点。该项目将包括绘制安东尼亚迪陨石坑的倒置水道系统和可能的湖泊沉积图(例如http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/PSP_007095_2020)描述：火星的阿拉伯地区域位于赤道以北，在古老的南部高地和最近进驻的火星北部平原之间。在火星最古老的“诺亚契亚”时期，该地区经历了大量的沉积物沉积和显著的侵蚀。最近，人们观察到阿拉伯地含有大量河流活动的证据，其形式是广泛但不连续的河流“倒置水道”[1]。这些地貌是古代河床保存下来的遗迹。它们现在形成直立的山脊，因为这些水道比它们周围的地形更耐侵蚀。在这个项目中，我们将首先使用高分辨率(HiRISE，25厘米/像素)和中分辨率(Cassis和CTX，5-6米/像素)图像，通过详细描述该地区的地形、地层和侵蚀样式，详细研究河道系统。这项研究的关键内容包括制定河道分类方案，限制地形和地层的变化，并将它们与陆地河流倒置河道[例如2]以及火星其他地方的倒置和常规河流河道[例如3]进行比较和对比。该项目的第二部分将侧重于一个特定区域--安东尼亚迪陨石坑。安东尼亚迪陨石坑代表了诺瓦契晚期环境的一个缩影：它是一个火山口湖，具有诺瓦契时代的出水口水道，火山口底部有不同的地形，从空间上与多角化地形和沉积扇状地貌相关的真正树枝状倒置水道系统，到火山侵入和小型火山建筑物抬升的表面。重要的是，安东尼亚迪陨石坑事件的时间可以通过叠加大型撞击坑和其他地质事件来确定，例如来自附近锡尔蒂斯主要火山省的熔岩流侵位。成功的学生将制作一张该地区的地质/地貌图，以构建古代火星上流水历史的精细视图。

- Study "inverted fluvial channels" (ancient preserved river systems) on Mars using the latest high-resolution images and terrain models, with the aim of understanding the timing and extent of fluvial activity during the period of Mars' history most relevant to the search for signs of past life.- The project will focus on the Arabia Terra region of Mars - an ancient and heavily degraded region that includes both candidate ExoMars Rover landing sites. The project will include mapping inverted channels systems and possible lake deposits in Antoniadi Crater (e.g. http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/PSP_007095_2020) Description: The Arabia Terra region of Mars sits north of the equator, between the ancient southern highlands and the more recently emplaced northern plains of Mars. The region underwent significant deposition of sediments and significant erosion during Mars' most ancient "Noachian" period. Recently, Arabia Terra has been observed to contain evidence for significant fluvial activity in the form of extensive, but discontinuous fluvial "inverted channels" [1]. These features are the preserved remnants of ancient riverbeds. They now form upstanding ridges because the channels are more erosion resistant than the terrains surrounding them. In this project, we will first take a synoptic view, using both high-resolution (HiRISE, 25cm/pixel) and medium resolution (Cassis and CTX, 5-6 m/pixel) images to study the channel systems in detail by detailing their morphology, stratigraphy, and erosional style across the area. Key elements of this study include developing a classification scheme for the channels, constraining the variations in morphology and stratigraphy, and comparing and contrasting them with terrestrial fluvial inverted channels [e.g., 2], and with inverted and conventional fluvial channels elsewhere on Mars [e.g., 3].The second part of the project will focus on a specific area - Antoniadi crater. Antoniadi Crater represent a microcosm for the late Noachian environment: it is a crater lake with Noachian-aged outlet channel , and the floor of the crater hosts diverse terrains ranging from truly dendritic inverted channel systems spatially associated with polygonised terrains and sediment fan-like landforms, to surfaces uplifted by volcanic intrusions and small scale volcanic edifices. Importantly, the timing of events in Antoniadi Crater can be bracketed by superposing large impact craters and other geological events, such as emplacement of lava flows from the nearby Syrtis Major volcanic province. The successful student will produce a geological/geomorphological map of the region to build a refined view of the history of flowing water on ancient Mars.