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The Geology of Ancient Fluvial and Lacustrine Systems in Arabia Terra and Melas Chasma, Mars

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The Geology of Ancient Fluvial and Lacustrine Systems in Arabia Terra and Melas Chasma, Mars THE GEOLOGY OF ANCIENT FLUVIAL AND LACUSTRINE SYSTEMS IN ARABIA TERRA AND MELAS CHASMA, MARS A thesis submitted to University College London for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Joel Michael Davis Department of Earth Sciences University College London Gower Street WC1E 6BT July 2017 1 I would like to dedicate this thesis to the men and women who have made the past five decades of Mars exploration possible. Per aspera ad astra. 2 Declaration I confirm that the work presented in this thesis is my own. Where information has been derived from other sources, I confirm that this is indicated. Joel Davis July 2017 3 “That’s no moon”. Ben Kenobi, Star Wars * “There isn’t enough life on this ice cube to fill a space cruiser”. Han Solo, The Empire Strikes Back * “Yes, I’m sure it’s perfectly safe for droids”. Luke Skywalker, The Empire Strikes Back 4 Abstract Fluvial and lacustrine processes were abundant on early Mars. However, key questions remain about the extent of these processes and the climate in which they formed. This thesis examines two regions of Mars, Arabia Terra and Melas Chasma, using high-resolution, remote sensing datasets, with a focus on (1) the influence of fluvial and lacustrine processes on the landscape and (2) the implications for the early martian climate and environment. I first investigate Arabia Terra, a Noachian region of the southern highlands, and have produced a regional map of fluvial landforms. Fluvial channels and paleolakes preserved as inverted relief are pervasive throughout Arabia Terra and may represent the depositional component of a regional, south to north fluvial transport system. In addition, I have produced a geological map of one of these inverted systems, which reveals a complex stratigraphy and demonstrates that fluvio- lacustrine processes are concentrated on the oldest terrains. These fluvial systems are strongly consistent with widespread precipitation and runoff across early Mars. The second region of investigation is the Hesperian south-western Melas Chasma basin, part of the Valles Marineris canyon system. Here I have produced a map of fluvial landforms, which indicates that fluvial processes were episodic and extended over a protracted period of time. I also examine the stratigraphic sequence within the central palaeolake in the basin, where evidence for episodic aqueous processes is also identifed. The south-western Melas Chasma basin provides strong evidence that fluvio-lacustrine processes on Mars continued for much of the early and middle history of Mars. 5 Acknowledgements My main thanks go to my primary supervisor, Pete Grindrod, who has consistently supported and encouraged me over the last four years. Pete gave the freedom and opportunity to pursue my own research interests, and get involved in countless extra projects. I am forever grateful to Pete for always accepting my endless office visits, for the hours of supervision, and for many discussions on Mars, Star Wars, and brewing. I am also deeply grateful to my secondary supervisor, Matt Balme, for triggering my interest in geomorphology and stratigraphy, and for helping shape my wilder, time-consuming ideas into solid, achievable scientific arguments. I would also like to thank my other supervisors: Sanjeev Gupta, for teaching me the importance of writing good papers and for providing geological realism to my martian imagination; and Adrian Jones, for many useful conversations. I am particularly grateful to those I’ve had the pleasure to share a workspace with in the CPS Office over the last four years, in no particular order: Jen, Louise, Roberto, Chris, Louisa, Elliot, Lucy, Adam, Huma, Guilia, and Ed. Helen, although we never overlapped, I’m counting you as an honoury office member. Special mentions go to Abigail, for reminding me of the importance of life outside work; to Tom, for many fun hours of productive and scientific distractions; and to Peter, for countless discussions about Mars and for all the ArcGIS knowledge a planetary geologist could hope for. In the Earth Sciences department, there are many, many people I’d like to acknowledge who have helped me throughout my undergraduate degree and PhD and made my time here much more entertaining, in particular: Wendy Kirk, Juergen, Dave Dobson, Rehemat, Carolina, Graham, Matt Dodd, Guanluca, and Isra. I’d would also like to thank all the Earth Sciences support staff: John, Danuta, Jen Amery, Celine, Leisa, and Susie. I’d also like to thank Becky Williams, for many encouraging collaborations, entertaining landing site workshops, and useful discussions. My thanks also extend to many of my other colleagues, both in the UK and elsewhere: Frances, Susan, Stephen, Stuart, Rob, and Steve, and many others. Outside of work, I’d would primarily like to thank my friends who make up the core Euston Tap crew: Richard, Christian, Matt, and Harry, whom I’ve had the pleasure to share many a beer after work with over the years. Rich, you’ve also been a great travel buddy, and helped make the PhD breaks much more enjoyable. Christian, it occurred to me today that since nursery, we’ve spent 6 18 overlapping years at the same school or university and nothing seems to have gone collossally wrong… yet; thanks for all your support! I’m also grateful to the many friends I’ve made through UCL and through the UCLU Hiking Club over the years. I’d particularly like to thank Sophie, for the many coffee breaks and for consistently challenging my nonsense. In addition, I’d also like to thank Emily, Vaughan, Alice, Pedro, Rachel, Chris, Maria, Katy, Hillsy, and Tasha. I’d especially like to thank all those who let me drag them up Toubkal in Morocco; that was a great distraction from the PhD! My thanks also extend to rest of the Hampstead crew: Tom, Jack, Theo, Ivan, and Savvas; I may not always seem like it, but I really do appreciate you guys. It always made me smile when you’d ask interested questions about Mars rocks! I’d also like to thank all my current and ex-Caltech friends, in particular, Taylor, Kevin, and Dave. I am grateful to the Science and Technologies Facilites Council, who funded me throughout the PhD, as well as to the UCL Dept. of Earth Sciences, UKSA, RAS, BSG, DCO, and EGU for additional funding. My thanks also extend to the various science and instrument teams from the different Mars missions whose data has been used throughout this thesis. I would also like to thank George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, for capturing my childhood imagination with space and dinosaurs, and ultimately inspiring me towards a career in planetary geology. I’d like to thank my sister, for just about learning what I do and for trusting me enough to more- or-less accept PhD advice. Finally, I would like to thank my parents, who have consistently supported and encouraged me over the years, and never pushed me in any one direction. 7 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations CRISM – Compact Resolution Imaging Spectrometer for Mars CTX – ConText Camera ESA – European Space Agency HiRISE – High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment HRSC – High Resolution Science Camera MAVEN – Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN Mission MER – Mars Exploration Rovers (Spirit and Opportunity) MEx – Mars Express MGS – Mars Global Surveyor MOC – Mars Orbital Camera MOLA – Mars Orbital Laser Altimeter MOM – Mars Orbiter Mission MRO – Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter MSL – Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration OMEGA – Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l’Eau, les Glaces et l’Activité SMB – South-western Melas Basin TGO – Trace Gas Orbiter THEMIS – Thermal Emission Imaging System 8 Contents Title .............................................................................................................................................. 1 Declaration................................................................................................................................... 3 Abstract ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................... 6 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ........................................................................................ 8 Contents ....................................................................................................................................... 9 Table of Figures......................................................................................................................... 12 Table of Tables .......................................................................................................................... 16 List of Equations ....................................................................................................................... 17 Chapter 1. Introduction and Literature Review .................................................................... 18 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 18 1.2 Water and Mars in the Solar System ........................................................................... 19 1.3 Introduction to Mars ................................................................................................... 21 1.4 Geological Evidence for Aqueous Processes on Mars ................................................ 25 1.5 The Early Martian Climate ........................................................................................
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