A Polygonal Terrain on Southern Martian Polar Cap: Implications for Its Formation Mechanism
Polygonal terrains on a Martian southern polar cap have been observed in high-resolution images by the Mars Orbiter Camera. However, their formation mechanism is enigmatic due to the lack of constraints from their geometric and physical properties. Here we proposed a series of recognition procedures...
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2022
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14225789 https://doaj.org/article/6dcd06b6d6964188a211611975b3e30c |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:6dcd06b6d6964188a211611975b3e30c 2023-05-15T16:38:18+02:00 A Polygonal Terrain on Southern Martian Polar Cap: Implications for Its Formation Mechanism Lei Zhang Yang Lu Jinhai Zhang 2022-11-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14225789 https://doaj.org/article/6dcd06b6d6964188a211611975b3e30c EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/22/5789 https://doaj.org/toc/2072-4292 doi:10.3390/rs14225789 2072-4292 https://doaj.org/article/6dcd06b6d6964188a211611975b3e30c Remote Sensing, Vol 14, Iss 5789, p 5789 (2022) polygonal terrain Mars southern polar cap formation mechanism gravity-driven plastic deformation and creep Science Q article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14225789 2022-12-30T20:13:13Z Polygonal terrains on a Martian southern polar cap have been observed in high-resolution images by the Mars Orbiter Camera. However, their formation mechanism is enigmatic due to the lack of constraints from their geometric and physical properties. Here we proposed a series of recognition procedures on an image of polygonal terrain located at Australe Scopuli taken by a High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment. Then, we quantitatively analyzed the areas, orientations and polygon edge densities (~0.10 to ~0.06 in different subregions) of the polygonal terrain. Based on the recognition results, three elevation-related subregions can be distinguished according to the distributions of polygon size and orientation. The two side subregions distribute relatively small and relatively large polygons, respectively. The middle subregion can be regarded as an intermediate zone along the slope (~1°). The intermediate zone is squeezed by the surrounding polygons, indicating a possible uplift or subsidence on previous or present Mars. This paper found a possible formation mechanism of the polygonal terrain located at the south pole of Mars, suggesting that polar-ice-cap polygons are formed during the process of lateral sliding gravity-driven plastic creep and the deformation of ice, with the polygon boundaries being reshaped during the alignment at high slopes and partially compressed at low slopes. These properties and possible formation mechanisms could provide more constraints on understanding ancient and/or present climates on Mars. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ice cap South pole Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles South Pole Remote Sensing 14 22 5789 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
polygonal terrain Mars southern polar cap formation mechanism gravity-driven plastic deformation and creep Science Q |
spellingShingle |
polygonal terrain Mars southern polar cap formation mechanism gravity-driven plastic deformation and creep Science Q Lei Zhang Yang Lu Jinhai Zhang A Polygonal Terrain on Southern Martian Polar Cap: Implications for Its Formation Mechanism |
topic_facet |
polygonal terrain Mars southern polar cap formation mechanism gravity-driven plastic deformation and creep Science Q |
description |
Polygonal terrains on a Martian southern polar cap have been observed in high-resolution images by the Mars Orbiter Camera. However, their formation mechanism is enigmatic due to the lack of constraints from their geometric and physical properties. Here we proposed a series of recognition procedures on an image of polygonal terrain located at Australe Scopuli taken by a High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment. Then, we quantitatively analyzed the areas, orientations and polygon edge densities (~0.10 to ~0.06 in different subregions) of the polygonal terrain. Based on the recognition results, three elevation-related subregions can be distinguished according to the distributions of polygon size and orientation. The two side subregions distribute relatively small and relatively large polygons, respectively. The middle subregion can be regarded as an intermediate zone along the slope (~1°). The intermediate zone is squeezed by the surrounding polygons, indicating a possible uplift or subsidence on previous or present Mars. This paper found a possible formation mechanism of the polygonal terrain located at the south pole of Mars, suggesting that polar-ice-cap polygons are formed during the process of lateral sliding gravity-driven plastic creep and the deformation of ice, with the polygon boundaries being reshaped during the alignment at high slopes and partially compressed at low slopes. These properties and possible formation mechanisms could provide more constraints on understanding ancient and/or present climates on Mars. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lei Zhang Yang Lu Jinhai Zhang |
author_facet |
Lei Zhang Yang Lu Jinhai Zhang |
author_sort |
Lei Zhang |
title |
A Polygonal Terrain on Southern Martian Polar Cap: Implications for Its Formation Mechanism |
title_short |
A Polygonal Terrain on Southern Martian Polar Cap: Implications for Its Formation Mechanism |
title_full |
A Polygonal Terrain on Southern Martian Polar Cap: Implications for Its Formation Mechanism |
title_fullStr |
A Polygonal Terrain on Southern Martian Polar Cap: Implications for Its Formation Mechanism |
title_full_unstemmed |
A Polygonal Terrain on Southern Martian Polar Cap: Implications for Its Formation Mechanism |
title_sort |
polygonal terrain on southern martian polar cap: implications for its formation mechanism |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14225789 https://doaj.org/article/6dcd06b6d6964188a211611975b3e30c |
geographic |
South Pole |
geographic_facet |
South Pole |
genre |
Ice cap South pole |
genre_facet |
Ice cap South pole |
op_source |
Remote Sensing, Vol 14, Iss 5789, p 5789 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/22/5789 https://doaj.org/toc/2072-4292 doi:10.3390/rs14225789 2072-4292 https://doaj.org/article/6dcd06b6d6964188a211611975b3e30c |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14225789 |
container_title |
Remote Sensing |
container_volume |
14 |
container_issue |
22 |
container_start_page |
5789 |
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1766028579539255296 |