Evolutionary history of western Eos Chaos of Valles Marineris, Mars: Insights from morphological characteristics
The dynamics of aqueous processes within the Eos Chasma region in the trough of Valles Marineris on Mars have been attributed to a variety of Hesperian-aged landforms. We aim to improve the understanding of the geological characteristics of the western part of the Eos Chaos by investigating the morp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Geosystems and Geoenvironment |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772883823000304 |
| _version_ | 1797670258554699776 |
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| author | Asif Iqbal Kakkassery V.J. Rajesh Rishitosh K. Sinha Devika Padmakumar K.S. Sajinkumar |
| author_facet | Asif Iqbal Kakkassery V.J. Rajesh Rishitosh K. Sinha Devika Padmakumar K.S. Sajinkumar |
| author_sort | Asif Iqbal Kakkassery |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The dynamics of aqueous processes within the Eos Chasma region in the trough of Valles Marineris on Mars have been attributed to a variety of Hesperian-aged landforms. We aim to improve the understanding of the geological characteristics of the western part of the Eos Chaos by investigating the morphological, topographical, and thermo-physical characteristics of the western semi-circular segment of Valles Marineris. The western Eos Chaos is characterized by remnants of an elevated crater rim, a central peak, and a circular boundary. Based on these observations, we infer that the study area is an ancient, highly degraded impact crater. Our observations indicate that numerous geological processes, such as fluvial, tectonic, and aeolian processes, have shaped the landforms. For instance, channels on the slope of the wall with a mean v-index of 0.2 indicate a fluvial origin. The chaotic mounds within the study regions are highly degraded. However, the presence of eroded inselberg peaks above the maximum ponding level of eastern Valles Marineris (–3560 m) suggests that both aeolian and fluvial processes have played a role in the denudation of the impact crater. Furthermore, both aeolian and fluvial processes also influenced the morphological evolution of inselbergs of this impact crater of Eos Chaos. The morphological, topographic, and thermal inertia characteristics of the landforms in the Eos Chaos are similar to those found elsewhere in Valles Marineris. In this study, the impact crater of Eos Chaos is considered a sub-region of Valles Marineris, in which evidence for many past geological processes is preserved. Based on possible chronological markers, we have developed a model that explains the evolution of the Eos Chaos impact crater and its incorporation into Valles Marineris. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:57:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c0aa60a65278440b8e7ff5a1ed1b582a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2772-8838 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:57:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geosystems and Geoenvironment |
| spelling | doaj.art-c0aa60a65278440b8e7ff5a1ed1b582a2023-09-30T04:55:50ZengElsevierGeosystems and Geoenvironment2772-88382023-11-0124100207Evolutionary history of western Eos Chaos of Valles Marineris, Mars: Insights from morphological characteristicsAsif Iqbal Kakkassery0V.J. Rajesh1Rishitosh K. Sinha2Devika Padmakumar3K.S. Sajinkumar4Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Valiamala PO, Thiruvananthapuram 695547, India; Department of PG Studies and Research in Geology, Government College Kasaragod, Vidyanagar, Kasaragod 671123, IndiaDepartment of Earth and Space Sciences, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Valiamala PO, Thiruvananthapuram 695547, India; Corresponding author.Planetary Science and Exploration Division, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380009, IndiaDepartment of Geology, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 695581, IndiaDepartment of Geology, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram 695581, India; Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Michigan 49930, USAThe dynamics of aqueous processes within the Eos Chasma region in the trough of Valles Marineris on Mars have been attributed to a variety of Hesperian-aged landforms. We aim to improve the understanding of the geological characteristics of the western part of the Eos Chaos by investigating the morphological, topographical, and thermo-physical characteristics of the western semi-circular segment of Valles Marineris. The western Eos Chaos is characterized by remnants of an elevated crater rim, a central peak, and a circular boundary. Based on these observations, we infer that the study area is an ancient, highly degraded impact crater. Our observations indicate that numerous geological processes, such as fluvial, tectonic, and aeolian processes, have shaped the landforms. For instance, channels on the slope of the wall with a mean v-index of 0.2 indicate a fluvial origin. The chaotic mounds within the study regions are highly degraded. However, the presence of eroded inselberg peaks above the maximum ponding level of eastern Valles Marineris (–3560 m) suggests that both aeolian and fluvial processes have played a role in the denudation of the impact crater. Furthermore, both aeolian and fluvial processes also influenced the morphological evolution of inselbergs of this impact crater of Eos Chaos. The morphological, topographic, and thermal inertia characteristics of the landforms in the Eos Chaos are similar to those found elsewhere in Valles Marineris. In this study, the impact crater of Eos Chaos is considered a sub-region of Valles Marineris, in which evidence for many past geological processes is preserved. Based on possible chronological markers, we have developed a model that explains the evolution of the Eos Chaos impact crater and its incorporation into Valles Marineris.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772883823000304Eos ChaosCatastrophic floodRegional evolutionMorphologyThermo-physical characteristicsMars |
| spellingShingle | Asif Iqbal Kakkassery V.J. Rajesh Rishitosh K. Sinha Devika Padmakumar K.S. Sajinkumar Evolutionary history of western Eos Chaos of Valles Marineris, Mars: Insights from morphological characteristics Geosystems and Geoenvironment Eos Chaos Catastrophic flood Regional evolution Morphology Thermo-physical characteristics Mars |
| title | Evolutionary history of western Eos Chaos of Valles Marineris, Mars: Insights from morphological characteristics |
| title_full | Evolutionary history of western Eos Chaos of Valles Marineris, Mars: Insights from morphological characteristics |
| title_fullStr | Evolutionary history of western Eos Chaos of Valles Marineris, Mars: Insights from morphological characteristics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evolutionary history of western Eos Chaos of Valles Marineris, Mars: Insights from morphological characteristics |
| title_short | Evolutionary history of western Eos Chaos of Valles Marineris, Mars: Insights from morphological characteristics |
| title_sort | evolutionary history of western eos chaos of valles marineris mars insights from morphological characteristics |
| topic | Eos Chaos Catastrophic flood Regional evolution Morphology Thermo-physical characteristics Mars |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772883823000304 |
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