Survey and Analysis of Arctic Fans in Svalbard, Norway as an Analog for Mars
The islands of Svalbard, Norway are located between Scandinavia and the North Pole (78°50’50.36”N 18°19’00.95”E). This region is known for its glacier-filled frozen tundra environment. Along the coastline of Svalbard are fan shaped deposits of unconsolidated sediment that are frozen during winter mo...
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fttntechojs:oai:ojs.publish.tntech.edu:article/773 2023-05-15T15:00:00+02:00 Survey and Analysis of Arctic Fans in Svalbard, Norway as an Analog for Mars Beltran, Sydney 2021-04-29 application/pdf https://publish.tntech.edu/index.php/PSRCI/article/view/773 eng eng Tennessee Tech University https://publish.tntech.edu/index.php/PSRCI/article/view/773/358 https://publish.tntech.edu/index.php/PSRCI/article/view/773 Copyright (c) 2021 Sydney Beltran Proceedings of Student Research and Creative Inquiry Day; Vol. 5 (2021) info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2021 fttntechojs 2021-06-27T19:07:07Z The islands of Svalbard, Norway are located between Scandinavia and the North Pole (78°50’50.36”N 18°19’00.95”E). This region is known for its glacier-filled frozen tundra environment. Along the coastline of Svalbard are fan shaped deposits of unconsolidated sediment that are frozen during winter months (mean low temperature -17°C in January) and fluidized during summer months (mean high temperature 5°C in July). These conditions make Svalbard a good terrestrial analog for Mars, where fan-shaped features suggest evidence of liquid water on the ancient surface. Comparing alluvial fans and fan-deltas on Earth to those on Mars, we can draw conclusions about the paleoclimate and geologic history of each planet.In this study, 302 arctic fans were identified and measured on the islands of Svalbard using high-resolution satellite data (< 5 m/pixel). Images were acquired by NASA Landsat satellites and Digital Globe commercial satellites. With using the historic imaging provided, some remote sections of the islands only had older images available while the majority was more recent, higher quality images. Each fan was marked and measured at its widest diameter and all data and coordinates recorded in Google Earth and Excel. Fans range in size from less than a kilometer to over five kilometers in diameter, and some fans display asymmetrical geometries consistent with alongshore transport. Preliminary results show that fans in Svalbard record interactions between snow, ice, and overland water flow, similar to what climate models predict for fan-shaped features formed early in Mars’ history. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic glacier glacier North Pole Svalbard Tundra TTU Published Journals @ Volpe Library Arctic North Pole Norway Svalbard |
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The islands of Svalbard, Norway are located between Scandinavia and the North Pole (78°50’50.36”N 18°19’00.95”E). This region is known for its glacier-filled frozen tundra environment. Along the coastline of Svalbard are fan shaped deposits of unconsolidated sediment that are frozen during winter months (mean low temperature -17°C in January) and fluidized during summer months (mean high temperature 5°C in July). These conditions make Svalbard a good terrestrial analog for Mars, where fan-shaped features suggest evidence of liquid water on the ancient surface. Comparing alluvial fans and fan-deltas on Earth to those on Mars, we can draw conclusions about the paleoclimate and geologic history of each planet.In this study, 302 arctic fans were identified and measured on the islands of Svalbard using high-resolution satellite data (< 5 m/pixel). Images were acquired by NASA Landsat satellites and Digital Globe commercial satellites. With using the historic imaging provided, some remote sections of the islands only had older images available while the majority was more recent, higher quality images. Each fan was marked and measured at its widest diameter and all data and coordinates recorded in Google Earth and Excel. Fans range in size from less than a kilometer to over five kilometers in diameter, and some fans display asymmetrical geometries consistent with alongshore transport. Preliminary results show that fans in Svalbard record interactions between snow, ice, and overland water flow, similar to what climate models predict for fan-shaped features formed early in Mars’ history. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Beltran, Sydney |
spellingShingle |
Beltran, Sydney Survey and Analysis of Arctic Fans in Svalbard, Norway as an Analog for Mars |
author_facet |
Beltran, Sydney |
author_sort |
Beltran, Sydney |
title |
Survey and Analysis of Arctic Fans in Svalbard, Norway as an Analog for Mars |
title_short |
Survey and Analysis of Arctic Fans in Svalbard, Norway as an Analog for Mars |
title_full |
Survey and Analysis of Arctic Fans in Svalbard, Norway as an Analog for Mars |
title_fullStr |
Survey and Analysis of Arctic Fans in Svalbard, Norway as an Analog for Mars |
title_full_unstemmed |
Survey and Analysis of Arctic Fans in Svalbard, Norway as an Analog for Mars |
title_sort |
survey and analysis of arctic fans in svalbard, norway as an analog for mars |
publisher |
Tennessee Tech University |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://publish.tntech.edu/index.php/PSRCI/article/view/773 |
geographic |
Arctic North Pole Norway Svalbard |
geographic_facet |
Arctic North Pole Norway Svalbard |
genre |
Arctic glacier glacier North Pole Svalbard Tundra |
genre_facet |
Arctic glacier glacier North Pole Svalbard Tundra |
op_source |
Proceedings of Student Research and Creative Inquiry Day; Vol. 5 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://publish.tntech.edu/index.php/PSRCI/article/view/773/358 https://publish.tntech.edu/index.php/PSRCI/article/view/773 |
op_rights |
Copyright (c) 2021 Sydney Beltran |
_version_ |
1766332115845120000 |