Dissertation
Revealing the hydrological history of Mars
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
05/2008
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005723
Abstract
The study of the history and present availability of water on Mars is critical to understanding geological processes and life on Mars, and to preparing for human exploration of Mars. NASA set forth the theme of Following the Water for the Mars exploration program. Following the theme, I presents this dissertation on 1) the origin of sulfates in the equatorial region of western Mars, 2) the water signature of gully-exposed sites on Mars, and 3) a characterization of the Phoenix landing site in an attempt to better understand the hydrologic history of early Mars, and the availability of water on Mars in recent geologic time and the present day. A new hypothesis for the origin and redistribution of sulfates in the equatorial region of western Mars was proposed in terms of the observed distribution occurrence of sulfates and the physiographic processes (volcanic, tectonic and sedimentary) affecting the Martian surface. This hypothesis integrates logically 1) the fate of sulfates in Valles Marineris and the source of sulfates in Meridiani Planum, and 2) the formation of sulfates in the equatorial region of western Mars, the Tharsis rise and Valles Marineris. This research implies that there was a dynamic Martian surface in early Martian history and liquid water was active at least until the Hesperian epoch. Investigation of water signatures at gully-exposed sites on Mars by hyperspectral image analysis finds that the depths of the water-related absorption bands are greater at the four selected gully-exposed sites than in surrounding areas. The stronger signature of water at the gully-exposed sites than their surrounding areas indicates more water (water-ice, isolated water molecules and hydroxyl) is likely contained in the surface materials at the gully-exposed sites and implies that the formation of gullies on Mars might have involved processes associated with liquid water. One interpretation might be that liquid water has been active in recent geological time, even to the present. Characterization of the Phoenix landing site indicates that it is in a plain composed of the soils or regolith of weathered basaltic andesite on the surface and water-ice or icy soil (permafrost) within centimetres or tens of centimetres below the surface. The landing site is an ideal site for investigating water and water-ice, and its potential as a habitat for life on Mars.
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Details
- Title
- Revealing the hydrological history of Mars
- Creators
- Chaojun Fan
- Contributors
- Dirk Schulze-Makuch (Chair)John Wolff (Committee Member) - Washington State University, School of the Environment (CAS)Joan Qiong Wu (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Department of Biological Systems EngineeringHongjie Xie (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 122
- Identifiers
- 99901054761201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation