TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluating the meaning of "layer" in the martian north polar layered deposits and the impact on the climate connection
AU - Fishbaugh, Kathryn E.
AU - Byrne, Shane
AU - Herkenhoff, Kenneth E.
AU - Kirk, Randolph L.
AU - Fortezzo, Corey
AU - Russell, Patrick S.
AU - McEwen, Alfred
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors profusely thank those at the U.S. Geological Survey in Flagstaff who were involved in the creation of the stereo DEM: Elpitha Howington-Kraus, Donna M. Galuszka, Bonnie L. Redding, and Mark R. Rosiek. Thank you also to the HiRISE team for so many helpful discussions. Two anonymous reviews greatly strengthened the paper. This work was funded by a NASA MRO Participating Scientist grant to KEF.
PY - 2010/1
Y1 - 2010/1
N2 - Using data from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, we reassess the methods by which layers within the north polar layered deposits (NPLD) can be delineated and their thicknesses measured. Apparent brightness and morphology alone are insufficient for this task; high resolution topographic data are necessary. From these analyses, we find that the visible appearance of layers depends to a large degree on the distribution of younger, mantling deposits (which in turn is partially influenced by inherent layer properties) and on the shape and location of the particular outcrop. This younger mantle partially obscures layer morphology and brightness and is likely a cause of the gradational contacts between individual layers at this scale. High resolution images reveal that there are several layers similar in appearance to the well-known marker bed discovered by Malin, M., Edgett, K., 2001. J. Geophys. Res. 106, 23429-23570. The morphology, thicknesses (4 - 8 ± sqrt(2) m), and separation distances (5 - 32 ± sqrt(2) m) of these marker beds, as gleaned from a high resolution stereo digital elevation model, lend insight into the connection between stratigraphy and climate.
AB - Using data from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, we reassess the methods by which layers within the north polar layered deposits (NPLD) can be delineated and their thicknesses measured. Apparent brightness and morphology alone are insufficient for this task; high resolution topographic data are necessary. From these analyses, we find that the visible appearance of layers depends to a large degree on the distribution of younger, mantling deposits (which in turn is partially influenced by inherent layer properties) and on the shape and location of the particular outcrop. This younger mantle partially obscures layer morphology and brightness and is likely a cause of the gradational contacts between individual layers at this scale. High resolution images reveal that there are several layers similar in appearance to the well-known marker bed discovered by Malin, M., Edgett, K., 2001. J. Geophys. Res. 106, 23429-23570. The morphology, thicknesses (4 - 8 ± sqrt(2) m), and separation distances (5 - 32 ± sqrt(2) m) of these marker beds, as gleaned from a high resolution stereo digital elevation model, lend insight into the connection between stratigraphy and climate.
KW - Climate
KW - Mars
KW - Polar Caps
KW - Polar Geology
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U2 - 10.1016/j.icarus.2009.04.011
DO - 10.1016/j.icarus.2009.04.011
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:72549105290
SN - 0019-1035
VL - 205
SP - 269
EP - 282
JO - Icarus
JF - Icarus
IS - 1
ER -