The stratigraphic history of Arabia Terra, Mars

使用各种各样的遥感数据，包括来自NASA和ESA航天器的最新高分辨率图像（0.25-5米/像素），来破译和记录火星一个重要地区的地质和地貌。发展地理信息系统、行星形态地层学制图、通过“陨石坑计数”数字高程模型制作的行星表面测年、沉积学、地层学、数据综合和学术写作方面的技能。加入一个大型的、充满活力的研究小组，积极参与火星任务和仪器，由英国行星科学中心的研究人员领导。阿拉伯地是火星最古老的部分之一，也是欧洲航天局2020年ExoMars探测器的目的地。阿拉伯地是一个迷人的地区，地质条件多样，包括广泛的冲积、构造、火山、沉积和侵蚀过程的证据。最近的研究表明，在火星的古代诺亚亚时期（大约37亿年前），阿拉伯地拥有广泛的河流系统，现在显示为规则和倒置的河道或山谷系统（1,2）。河流景观是从各种各样的叠合层下挖掘出来的，这些叠合层通常来历不明，但受到严重侵蚀，现在暴露在悬崖和层理平面上。例如，被称为“蚀刻地形”的大量沉积沉积物在阿拉伯大地上涌现出来。它们是曾经广泛分布于区域的单位的残余，后来大部分被移走了。关于其起源的假说包括来自“巨型火山”的火山碎屑、风成沉积物或深度侵蚀的冲积沉积物。更年轻、更薄、形态不同的其他抵抗单位也出现在整个地区，包括在火星探测器的着陆点——这些通常被认为是火山起源，但对它们知之甚少。最后，在阿拉伯地的边缘可以看到成百上千的高凸起、陡峭的侵蚀残余物，它们似乎是曾经更广泛、几十米厚的沉积层的全部残余。该项目旨在研究所有这些地层的区域分布，并将它们置于区域和时间背景下，并限制可能的沉积，侵蚀和保存过程。这对于了解火星的地质历史，以及生物标记物的改变和保存潜力非常重要。成功的候选人将使用非常高分辨率（1-20米）的数字地形模型、图像和多/高光谱数据来研究这些单元的形态、沉积学和地层学。对厚度、倾角、抗侵蚀性的持续测量，以及对分层中几何形状和重复模式的识别，将用于测试这些单元起源的各种假设，或建立新的工作假设。该项目包括近露头尺度的详细研究，使用25厘米/像素的HiRISE数据和新的4-5米/像素的彩色CaSSIS数据，以及使用低分辨率遥感产品的天气调查和制图研究。该项目将由行星环境研究小组主持

Use a broad variety of remote sensing data, including the latest very high-resolution images (0.25-5 m/pixel) from NASA and ESA spacecraft, to decipher and record the geology and geomorphology of an important region of Mars.Develop skills in GIS, planetary morphostratigraphic mapping, planetary surface dating by 'crater counting' Digital Elevation Model production, sedimentology, stratigraphy, data synthesis and academic writing.Join a large, dynamic research group with active Mars mission and instrument involvement, led by researchers working at the heart of UK planetary science.Arabia Terra is one of the most ancient parts of Mars and is the destination for ESA's 2020 ExoMars Rover. Arabia Terra is a fascinating region, with a diverse geology including evidence for extensive alluvial, tectonic, volcanic, depositional and erosional processes. Recent work has shown that during Mars' ancient Noachian Period (> 3.7 Billion years ago) Arabia Terra hosted extensive river systems that are now revealed as regular and inverted channel or valleys systems (1,2). The fluvial landscape has been exhumed from beneath a diverse variety of superimposing, but heavily eroded, strata of generally unknown origin and is now exposed in cliffs and bedding planes.For example, vast sedimentary deposits known as "etched terrains" crop out across Arabia Terra. They are remnants of once regionally-extensive units that have since been mostly removed. Proposed hypotheses for their origin include volcaniclastics from 'megavolcanoes', aeolian deposits or deeply eroded alluvial deposits. Younger, thinner and morphologically distinct examples of other resistant units also occur across the region, including at the ExoMars Rover landing site - these are often assumed to volcanic in origin, but little is known about them. Lastly, many hundreds or even thousands of high-relief, steep-sided erosional remnants are seen around the margins of Arabia Terra and appear to be all that is left of a once more extensive, tens of metres thick, sedimentary layers.This project aims to examine the regional distribution of all of these strata and put them into a regional and temporal context and to constrain the possible depositional, erosional and preservation processes. This is important for understanding the geological history of Mars, and for the alteration and preservation potential of biomarkers. The successful candidate will investigate the morphology, sedimentology and stratigraphy of these units using very high resolution (1-20 m) Digital Terrain Models, images and multi/hyperspectral data.ContinuedMeasurements of thickness, dip, erosion resistance and identification of geometries and repeated patterns in the layering will be used to test the various hypotheses for the origin of these units, or to build new working hypotheses. The project includes both detailed studies at near outcrop-scale using 25 cm/pixel HiRISE data and the new 4-5 m/pixel colour CaSSIS data, and synoptic survey and mapping studies using lower resolution remote sensing products.The project will be hosted in the Planetary Environments Research Group