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.

火星大子午线平原区（Greater Meridiani Planum）是发育多样河流地貌（fluvial landforms）的关键研究区域。该区域内的河谷网络（valley networks）具有多种地貌样式，沿延伸方向可表现为负地形（negative relief）、正地形（positive relief），或二者的混合组合。本研究借助ArcGIS桌面版（ArcGIS Desktop）软件中空间分辨率约5–6米/像素的高分辨率轨道影像，对大子午线平原区内此前未被充分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（geomorphic characteristics）作为要素属性进行记录。本次制图的研究目标包含三点：1）系统记录该区域内河谷网络的全部地貌形态类型；2）分别从区域尺度与河谷网络段两个维度，分析地貌形态类型的变化特征；3）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，进一步明晰大子午线平原区的地貌演化（landscape evolution）过程。