New Evidence to Support Zephyria Tholus as a Composite Volcano on Mars
Zephyria Tholus has been proposed to be a composite volcano, however, detailed geomorphological study was not carried out due to limited high-resolution remote sensing data. Here we use MOLA, THEMIS, CTX and HiRISE data to conduct topographical and geomorphological analysis of Zephyria Tholus. We id...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/19/3891 |
| _version_ | 1797515803899199488 |
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| author | Le Wang Jiannan Zhao Jun Huang Long Xiao |
| author_facet | Le Wang Jiannan Zhao Jun Huang Long Xiao |
| author_sort | Le Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Zephyria Tholus has been proposed to be a composite volcano, however, detailed geomorphological study was not carried out due to limited high-resolution remote sensing data. Here we use MOLA, THEMIS, CTX and HiRISE data to conduct topographical and geomorphological analysis of Zephyria Tholus. We identify extensive valleys and troughs on the flank, which are sector collapse or glacio-fluvial in origin. The valleys and troughs indicate coexistence of different erosion resistance materials, along with the observed solid lava outcrops. There are also layered materials identified on the wall of the largest valley. In addition, perched craters are identified on the top depression and flanks of Zephyria Tholus, indicating the presence of ice-rich layer. We conducted crater size-frequency distribution of the caldera and found the absolute model age is 3.74 (+0.03, −0.04) Ga. The geomorphology evidence and chronology result support the composite volcano nature of Zephyria Tholus, and indicate the magma volatile content in the Aeolis region in Noachian is more than 0.15 wt% if the atmosphere paleo-pressure was similar to present Mars. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:53:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c0a50816fe8c45bcbcc8c45d460a8204 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:53:23Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
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| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-c0a50816fe8c45bcbcc8c45d460a82042023-11-22T16:42:21ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922021-09-011319389110.3390/rs13193891New Evidence to Support Zephyria Tholus as a Composite Volcano on MarsLe Wang0Jiannan Zhao1Jun Huang2Long Xiao3State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, Planetary Science Institute, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, Planetary Science Institute, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, Planetary Science Institute, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, Planetary Science Institute, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaZephyria Tholus has been proposed to be a composite volcano, however, detailed geomorphological study was not carried out due to limited high-resolution remote sensing data. Here we use MOLA, THEMIS, CTX and HiRISE data to conduct topographical and geomorphological analysis of Zephyria Tholus. We identify extensive valleys and troughs on the flank, which are sector collapse or glacio-fluvial in origin. The valleys and troughs indicate coexistence of different erosion resistance materials, along with the observed solid lava outcrops. There are also layered materials identified on the wall of the largest valley. In addition, perched craters are identified on the top depression and flanks of Zephyria Tholus, indicating the presence of ice-rich layer. We conducted crater size-frequency distribution of the caldera and found the absolute model age is 3.74 (+0.03, −0.04) Ga. The geomorphology evidence and chronology result support the composite volcano nature of Zephyria Tholus, and indicate the magma volatile content in the Aeolis region in Noachian is more than 0.15 wt% if the atmosphere paleo-pressure was similar to present Mars.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/19/3891composite volcanoremote sensingMars |
| spellingShingle | Le Wang Jiannan Zhao Jun Huang Long Xiao New Evidence to Support Zephyria Tholus as a Composite Volcano on Mars Remote Sensing composite volcano remote sensing Mars |
| title | New Evidence to Support Zephyria Tholus as a Composite Volcano on Mars |
| title_full | New Evidence to Support Zephyria Tholus as a Composite Volcano on Mars |
| title_fullStr | New Evidence to Support Zephyria Tholus as a Composite Volcano on Mars |
| title_full_unstemmed | New Evidence to Support Zephyria Tholus as a Composite Volcano on Mars |
| title_short | New Evidence to Support Zephyria Tholus as a Composite Volcano on Mars |
| title_sort | new evidence to support zephyria tholus as a composite volcano on mars |
| topic | composite volcano remote sensing Mars |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/19/3891 |
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