Mest, Scott Charles
(2005)
EVOLUTION OF THE MARTIAN HIGHLANDS: IMPLICATIONS FROM DRAINAGE BASIN CHARACTERISTICS AND VALLEY NETWORK MORPHOLOGIES.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Geologic and geomorphic analyses reveal the effects of fluvial processes within Tyrrhena Terra, Promethei Terra and Libya Montes, Mars. High-resolution Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC), Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) visible and thermal infrared wavelength images, Viking Orbiter images, Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) and Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) topographic data are used to qualitatively and quantitatively characterize highland fluvial systems and analyze the role of water in the evolution of these highland terrains. Highland materials--including rugged uplands, intermontane basin-filling materials, plains and impact crater ejecta deposits--are dissected by both widespread, well-integrated valley networks, such as Vichada Valles in Tyrrhena Terra, and small-scale isolated networks and single channels. The interior and exterior rims of impact craters, such as crater Millochau, are also dissected by gullies. Characterization of these features and the geologic units in which they occur is necessary to fully understand the nature of martian fluvial activity and the history of Mars' climate. High-resolution (128 pixels/degree) MOLA Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are used with the Arc/Info GIS software (including GRID, ARCPLOT, and ArcView 3.2a) and GRIDVIEW to quantitatively characterize the surface hydrology of Tyrrhena Terra, Promethei Terra and Libya Montes. Drainage basin divides and valley networks are modeled at different scales dependent on the depth to which anomalous pixel sinks are filled. Modeled drainage divides are defined by the distribution of highland peaks and impact crater rims. Hydrologic modeling results suggest that large areas of apparently undissected terrain in Tyrrhena Terra may have been influenced by fluvial processes. Compared to mapped networks, models of large-scale valley systems in Tyrrhena Terra accurately represent the locations of valleys down to at least second order. Smaller-scale systems observed in Promethei Terra and Libya Montes are more difficult to accurately represent with the model due to a combination of a large amount of topographic interpolation within the MOLA DEM and the close spacing of short, narrow valleys Rigorous comparison of the model results to image data is helping to produce accurate maps of martian drainage basins and their associated valley networks, which provide critical constraints for valley formation mechanisms and climate history.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
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| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
31 January 2005 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Defense Date: |
1 October 2004 |
| Approval Date: |
31 January 2005 |
| Submission Date: |
10 October 2004 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Geology and Planetary Science |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
drainage basin; fluvial geomorphology; geology; Mars; valley networks |
| Other ID: |
http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-10102004-221931/, etd-10102004-221931 |
| Date Deposited: |
10 Nov 2011 20:02 |
| Last Modified: |
15 Nov 2016 13:50 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/9451 |
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