Non-linear flow modelling of a Martian Lobate Debris Apron

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Louise Steffensen Schmidt, Christine Schøtt Hvidberg, Jung Rack Kim, Nanna Bjørnholt Karlsson
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press 2019
• Subjects: Extraterrestrial glaciology; glacier flow; glacier mass balance; glacier modelling; ice temperature; Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Meteorology. Climatology; QC851-999; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2019.54; https://doaj.org/article/1f67cff02e624e53a94f126ffe68e017

The Martian mid-latitudes contain numerous small water-ice deposits, collectively termed viscous flow features (VFFs). The shape and topography of the deposits contain information on their past flow history and formation process. In order to access this information, it is imperative to get information on their deformational properties. Here we use a high-resolution digital topography map and ice-penetrating radar data in combination with an inverse method to constrain the deformational properties of a lobate debris apron, a class of VFF, in the southern hemisphere of Mars. We find that while the creep parameter and accumulation rates are not well constrained in absolute values, their ratio is robust. We also find that the creep exponent is most likely n ≤ 3.