Martian volcanic systems: using surface strain indicators to investigate magmatically driven stress in the Tharis region, Mars

这个令人兴奋的项目旨在利用过去十年收集的大量航天器数据破译火星的地质历史。该项目的新奇之处在于利用火星火山系统的表面表现来推断火星内部的时间运作。作为该项目一部分的科学成果和技术开发不仅对我们了解火星很重要，而且还可以转移到其他行星体-包括地球。对太阳系行星和卫星的遥感为我们提供了这些遥远位置的地形和表面过程的视图。对于火星来说，可用的数据通常比我们对地球的数据具有更高的分辨率和更大的空间范围，从而为这颗红色星球提供了前所未有的地质见解。然而，尽管这些数据允许测量和分析火星上的火山和构造结构，但我们对这些结构的次表面过程和驱动机制的理解是有限的。因此，我们在地球上寻找类似的结构，我们有更多的了解，但我们也必须考虑两个行星之间的差异，如岩石圈强度和厚度以及表面重力的变化（Kronberg等人，2007年，Musiol等人，2016年，Heap等人，2017），指导这些系统背后的驱动机制。这项研究将侧重于火星塔尔西斯地区的古代火山系统以及那里广泛的径向和周向地堑系统（例如，Ohman和Mc Govern，2014年）。这项研究的目的是利用火星表面的高分辨率遥感数据绘制整个区域的地表断层位移图并加以量化：MOLA（火星轨道器激光高度计）、CTX（火星侦察轨道器背景照相机）和HiRISE（高分辨率成像科学实验）数据集。然后，将把相关的应变与适当范围的表面重力和岩石圈强度结合起来，以产生历史火山活动的潜在模型。这一过程的效用将使用冰岛火山区的等效地球模拟数据进行测试。你将在利兹的行星探测组（PEG）和NCSU的Paul Byrne博士一起工作。特别是，根据您的特定研究兴趣，学生奖学金可能涉及：1。分析火星上的断层系统，特别是阿尔巴山周围和塔尔西斯隆起的其他地区，使用MOLA，CTX和HiRISE数据提取，绘制和比较整个地区不同分辨率的断层位移剖面。2.制作相关的表面应变图，并使用现有的弹性位错（艾德）建模软件来制作艾德模型和预测断层面故障。开发火山建模过程，包括通过对塔尔西斯地区测量的表面裂缝进行反分析来预测表面裂缝。利用现有高分辨率激光雷达数据的应变测量值和在冰岛的实地工作相结合，调查和开发地球上的类似火山系统模型，并进一步开发一般的行星火山系统建模过程。利用火星陨石样品来限制表面材料的性质和行为，包括在UoL使用高端显微镜以及在同步加速器设施进行可能的分析。

This exciting project aims to decipher the geological history of Mars utilising the ample spacecraft data collected over the last decade. The novelty of the project lies in using the surface expressions of volcanic systems of Mars to infer the planet's inner workings through time. Scientific outcomes and technique development undertaken as part of the project will be not only important for our understanding of Mars, but also transferable to other planetary bodies - including Earth.Remote sensing of planets and moons across our solar system has provided us with a view of the topography and surface processes of these distant locations. For Mars, the available data is often both of a higher resolution and a far greater spatial extent than those we have for Earth, presenting unprecedented geological insight into the Red Planet. However, although these data allows for measurement and analysis of volcanic and tectonic structures on Mars, our understanding of the sub-surface processes and driving mechanisms for these structures is limited. We therefore look to analogous structures on Earth, of which we have a greater understanding, but we must also consider differences between both planets, such as lithospheric strength and thickness and variations in surface gravity (Kronberg et al. 2007, Musiol et al., 2016, Heap et al., 2017) that guide the driving mechanisms behind these systems. This study will focus on the ancient volcanic systems in the Tharsis region of Mars and the extensive systems of radial and circumferential grabens there (e.g. Ohman and Mc Govern, 2014). The aim of the study will be to map and quantify surface fault displacement across the region using high resolution remote-sensing data of the Martian surface: MOLA (Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter), CTX (Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter Context Camera) and HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) datasets. The associated strain will then be incorporated with appropriate ranges of surface gravity and lithospheric strength to produce potential models of historical volcanic behaviour. The utility of this process will be tested using equivalent Earth-based analogous data over volcanic zones in Iceland.You will work within the Planetary Exploration Group (PEG) here at Leeds and with Dr Paul Byrne at NCSU. In particular, according to your particular research interests, the studentship could involve:1. Analysis of fault systems on Mars, specifically around Alba Mons and other regions of the Tharsis Rise, using MOLA, CTX and HiRISE data to extract, map and compare fault displacement profiles at the different resolutions across the region. 2. Production of associated surface strain maps and use of available Elastic Dislocation (ED) modelling software to produce models of ED and predicted fault plane failure.3. Development of volcanic modelling processes to include surface fracture prediction via back analysis of measured surface fractures in the Tharsis region.4. Using a combination of strain measurements from available high-resolution LiDAR data and field work in Iceland to investigate and develop analogous volcanic system models on Earth and to further develop planetary volcanic system modelling processes in general.5. Utilising Martian meteorite samples to constrain surface material properties and behaviour, including the use of high-end microscopy at UoL as well as possible analysis at synchrotron facilities.