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Fluvial Landforms and the Post-Noachian Environment on Mars

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Fluvial Landforms and the Post-Noachian Environment on Mars Fluvial Landforms and the Post-Noachian Environment on Mars Sharon Atirah Wilson Purdy Brooklyn, Wisconsin B. A., Middlebury College, 2001 M. S., University of Virginia, 2006 A Dissertation presented to the Graduate Faculty of the University of Virginia in Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Environmental Sciences University of Virginia November, 2017 ABSTRACT Several paradigm shifts have occurred over the past several decades as our understanding of the hydrologic and climatic history of Mars has evolved. It is generally accepted that the early climate on Mars was capable of sustaining an active hydrological cycle, and that (possibly episodic) precipitation and runoff formed the low-to-mid latitude belt of valley networks. Age analyses from crater counts suggests a sudden decline in fluvial activity around the Noachian-Hesperian boundary, presumably associated with the loss of the early denser atmosphere. The climate in the Hesperian and Amazonian was generally considered less favorable for precipitation (most likely snow) and runoff. This paradigm, however, is being challenged by a growing suite of post-Noachian fluvial landforms that support evidence for a late, widespread episode(s) of aqueous activity. Because modification by water and ice on a paleolandscape is one of the most unambiguous markers of past climate, this dissertation investigates fresh shallow valleys (FSVs), deltas, paleolakes, alluvial fans and aqueous-rich ejecta deposits in northern Arabia Terra and northwestern Noachis Terra that formed in the Hesperian and Amazonian. The objective of this dissertation is to provide insight into the environment and associated climate regime that permitted the formation of these post-Noachian fluvial landforms, which furthers our understanding of the potential late-stage habitability of Mars. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ iii LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................ x DEDICATION................................................................................................................ xiv CHAPTER 1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 1.1 References ............................................................................................................ 9 CHAPTER 2. Fresh Shallow Valleys in Northern Arabia Terra ............................... 15 Abstract ......................................................................................................................... 15 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 16 2.2 Background .......................................................................................................... 19 2.2.1 Morphology and Nature of FSVs ................................................................ 19 2.2.2 Occurrence and Global Distribution of FSVs ............................................. 21 2.2.3 The Northern Arabia Terra Landscape and Associated Landforms ........... 23 2.3 Data and Methods............................................................................................... 26 2.3.1 Geomorphic Mapping .................................................................................... 26 2.3.2 The Hydrological Routing Model .................................................................. 26 2.3.3 Crater Statistics and Relative Ages ............................................................... 28 2.4 Observations and Inferences .............................................................................. 29 2.4.1 Distribution and Nature of FSVs and Associated Deposits ........................ 29 2.4.2 Hydrological Model .................................................................................... 30 2.4.3 Heart Lake Valley System .......................................................................... 35 2.4.4 Northern Plains Valley System ................................................................... 44 2.4.5 Boomerang Lake Valley System ................................................................ 48 2.5 FSV Discharge Estimates ..................................................................................... 52 2.6 Estimate of FSV Age from Crater Statistics ........................................................ 55 2.7 Discussion ............................................................................................................ 62 2.7.1 Mechanisms for Fluvial Activity and Sources of Water ............................. 62 iii 2.7.2 Evidence for Paleolakes .............................................................................. 63 2.7.3 Discharge Estimates and Style of Erosion .................................................. 64 2.7.4 The Role of Groundwater ........................................................................... 66 2.8 Summary ............................................................................................................ 70 2.9 Citation ............................................................................................................... 71 2.10 References .......................................................................................................... 71 2.11 JPL Press Release ............................................................................................... 82 2.12 AGU Earth & Space Science News: EOS Research Spotlight .......................... 85 CHAPTER 3. Geologic Mapping in Northwestern Noachis Terra ............................ 86 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 86 3.2 Background ........................................................................................................ 88 3.3 Mapping Methods and Data ............................................................................... 90 3.4 Age Determinations............................................................................................ 91 3.5 Stratigraphy ........................................................................................................ 94 3.5.1 Noachian Period .......................................................................................... 97 3.5.2 Hesperian Period ......................................................................................... 98 3.5.3 Amazonian Period ..................................................................................... 100 3.6 Conclusions and Future Work .......................................................................... 104 3.7 References ........................................................................................................ 105 CHAPTER 4. The Evolution of Uzboi Vallis.............................................................. 111 Abstract ....................................................................................................................... 111 4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 112 4.2 Background and Geologic Setting.................................................................... 114 4.2.1 Uzboi Vallis .............................................................................................. 114 4.2.2 Nirgal Vallis .............................................................................................. 115 4.3 Data and Methods............................................................................................. 119 4.4 Observations and Inferences ............................................................................ 121 4.4.1 Topography of the Uzboi Vallis Floor ...................................................... 121 4.4.2 The Uzboi Floor Deposit .......................................................................... 125 4.4.3 Crater Martynov ........................................................................................ 136 4.5 Discussion ........................................................................................................ 137 iv 4.5.1 Nature and Origin of the Upper Unit of the Uzboi Floor Deposit ............ 138 4.5.2 Nature and Origin of the Lower Unit of the Uzboi Floor Deposit............ 141 4.5.3 The Timing of Fluvial Activity in Nirgal Vallis ....................................... 145 4.5.4 Implications for the mid- to Late Hesperian Climate ............................... 146 4.6 Summary .......................................................................................................... 148 4.7 References ........................................................................................................ 153 CHAPTER 5. Distal Aqueous-Rich Ejecta Deposits from Hale Crater .................. 164 Abstract ....................................................................................................................... 164 5.1 Introduction .....................................................................................................
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