Morphologic and topographic analyses of debris aprons in the eastern Hellas region, Mars

Abstract

This paper presents new, detailed analyses of small-scale morphologic and topographic characteristics of martian debris aprons that support Viking-based interpretations of debris aprons as ice-rich flow features derived from local uplands. Fifty-four debris apron complexes in the eastern Hellas region of Mars were examined using Mars Global Surveyor data sets, including Mars Orbiter Camera images and Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter topographic profiles. Consistent patterns in a suite of small-scale surface textures and geomorphic features observed throughout the population reflect a history of viscous flow and surface degradation through wind ablation and loss of contained ice. A wide variety of shapes seen in topographic profile reveal variations in distribution of contained ice and different stages of apron development and degradation. The results of this study provide new evidence consistent with multiple models of apron formation, including rock glacier, debris-covered glacier, and ice-rich landslide models. Typical eastern Hellas debris aprons formed from a series of large-scale events, emplacing debris that was enriched initially or later by ground ice, complemented by small-scale mass wasting of multiple styles and postemplacement flow of apron masses.