Valley network morphology in the greater Meridiani Planum region, Mars

The Greater Meridiani Planum region on Mars is a key locale for a diverse range of fluvial landforms. Valley networks in this region have a range of geomorphologic styles that include negative relief, positive relief, or some combination of both along their lengths. Using high-resolution ∼5–6 m/pixel orbital images in ArcGIS Desktop software, we mapped previously under-recognized fine-scale valley networks within the Greater Meridiani Planum region and recorded their geomorphic characteristics as feature attributes. The objectives in using the mapped features are to 1) document the full range of valley network morphologic types in the region, 2) document changes in morphologic types both on a regional scale and along the valley network segments, and 3) to use the mapped features along with other geologic information from previous studies to better understand landscape evolution in the Greater Meridiani Planum region.

火星大子午线平原（Greater Meridiani Planum）区域是发育多种河流地貌的关键研究区域。该区域内的河谷网络具有多样的地貌样式，包括沿河谷延伸方向呈现的负地形、正地形，或两者兼具的组合形态。本研究借助ArcGIS Desktop软件中的约5–6米每像素高分辨率轨道影像，对大子午线平原区域内此前未被识别的精细尺度河谷网络开展了制图工作，并将其地貌特征作为要素属性进行记录。本次制图的研究目标共三项：其一，完整记录该区域内河谷网络的全部地貌形态类型；其二，分别从区域尺度与河谷网络段两个层面，刻画地貌形态类型的变化特征；其三，结合本次制图获取的要素数据与既往研究中的其他地质资料，深入解析大子午线平原区域的地貌演化过程。