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中收集的大量航天器数据来破译火星的地质历史。该项目的新颖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运行情况。作为该项目的一部分，科学成果和技术发展不仅对我们了解火星很重要，而且可以转移到包括地球在内的其他行星上。对太阳系中行星和卫星的遥感为我们提供了这些遥远地点的地形和表面过程的视图。对于火星来说，可用的数据往往比地球上的数据分辨率更高，空间范围也大得多，为这颗红色星球提供了前所未有的地质视角。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地下过程和驱动机制的理解是有限的。因此，我们着眼于地球上的类似结构，我们对此有更深入的了解，但我们也必须考虑两颗行星之间的差异，例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年），这些差异指导了这些系统背后的驱动机制。本研究将重点关注火星塔尔西斯地区的古代火山系统以及那里的径向和周向地堑的广泛系统（例如Ohman和Mc Govern， 2014）。该研究的目的是利用火星表面的高分辨率遥感数据：MOLA（火星轨道器激光高度计）、CTX（火星勘测轨道器背景相机）和HiRISE（高分辨率成像科学实验）数据集，绘制和量化整个地区的地表断层位移。然后，相关的应变将与适当的地表重力和岩石圈强度范围相结合，以产生历史火山行为的潜在模型。这一过程的效用将通过冰岛火山带的等效地球模拟数据进行测试。你将在利兹的行星探索小组（PEG）工作，并与NCSU的Paul Byrne博士一起工作。特别地，根据你的特殊研究兴趣，学生可以包括：1。分析火星上的断层系统，特别是阿尔巴山和塔尔西斯隆起的其他地区，使用MOLA、CTX和HiRISE数据提取、绘制和比较该地区不同分辨率的断层位移剖面。2. 制作相关的地表应变图，并使用可用的弹性位错（ED）建模软件来制作ED模型和预测断层面失效。3 .发展火山模拟过程，通过对塔尔西斯地区测量到的地表裂缝进行反分析，包括地表裂缝预测。利用现有的高分辨率激光雷达数据和冰岛的实地工作相结合的应变测量，调查和开发地球上类似的火山系统模型，并进一步开发行星火山系统建模过程。利用火星陨石样本来约束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上进行可能的分析。

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.