Amazonian thermokarst within a trough of Noctis Labyrinthus, Mars

Abstract

This paper describes the possible ice-related landforms observed on the floor of a trough located in the western part of Noctis Labyrinthus, centred at -6.8° S, 98.9° W, in the equatorial region of Mars. A morphological survey of the study area and of the landforms was investigated through an integrated analysis of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) and Context Camera (CTX) data. The analysis highlighted the presence of landforms interpreted as being due to thermokarst processes, resembling similarly ice-related landforms found both in the cold-climate non-glacial regions of Earth and in other areas of Mars. These landforms, which are attributed to melting processes of ground ice, suggest significant climatic changes and climatic conditions differing from those existing now. Moreover, they appear to display young erosional age, suggesting that they are probably of Amazonian age.