Mapping of Statistical Characteristics of Kilometer-Scale Topography of Mars With MGS MOLA Data: Implications for Study of Surficial Deposits

Mathematics – Logic

Scientific paper

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3250 Fractals And Multifractals, 5415 Erosion And Weathering, 5470 Surface Materials And Properties, 6225 Mars

Scientific paper

We present new maps of the statistical characteristics of kilometer-scale topography of Mars obtained with the whole set of MOLA data. The interquartile scale of profile curvature was used as a statistical characteristic of the surface roughness. We mapped the interquartile scale of curvature at the baselines of 0.6, 2.4, and 9.6 km. The composite color map combining the roughness at these scales allows one to overview both the general roughness of the surface and peculiarities of its dependence on scale. We also mapped the normalized median curvature as a statistical measure that characterizes prevalence of convex or concave profile segments. For such maps we use the curvature at the baselines of 0.6 and 2.4 km. These maps give a new overview of the surface topographic pattern, which is essentially complimentary to the view given by the roughness maps. In addition to the latitudinal trend of surface roughness on Mars interpreted as the presence of a geologically young several-meter-thick mantle at high-latitudes (Kreslavsky and Head, J. Geophys. Res., 105, 26695-26711, 2000), we detect a specific subkilometer-scale topographic pattern in an irregular zonal band on the margins of these deposits. This band represents the global distribution of a specific dissected pattern seen in MOC images in narrow mid-latitude zones and interpreted as evidence for ongoing desiccation of ground ice (Mustard et al., Nature, 412, 411-414, 2001). A very atypical kilometer- and subkilometer-scale topographic pattern characterizes polygonal terrains and the "hematite deposits". The maps of roughness and other statistical characteristics also show distinctive boundaries of surficial deposits within geologically homogeneous areas, for example, in Lunae Planum. Thus the maps of kilometer-scale statistical characteristics of topography are very promising for overview and mapping of surficial deposits on Mars.

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