Subsurface Reflectors Detected by SHARAD Reveal Stratigraphy and Buried Channels Over Central Elysium Planitia, Mars

Abstract

Abstract The Central Elysium Planitia (CEP) is one of the youngest geological units on Mars and displays evidence of volcanic and fluvial activities on the surface. The origin of the CEP material has long been debated with a range of hypotheses from purely fluvial to solely volcanic origins. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of SHAllow RADar (SHARAD) data to reveal subsurface radar reflectors over the CEP region. Distribution of the detected radar reflectors show possible connections between the CEP and outflow channels, such as Athabasca Valles and Marte Vallis. Analysis of the radar reflectors in the CEP region show six subsurface layers implying multiple depositional and erosional episodes. One detected subsurface layer is found to correspond to the upper exposed layers of one terraced crater. By measuring the depth accurately of these exposed layers in the derived HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Scientific Experiment) and CTX (Context Camera) DTMs (Digital Terrain Models) and inverting the dielectric constant combining the layers in radargrams, an interpretation that the filling material contains water ice is favored.

Keywords

• CTX DTM
• Elysium Planitia
• HiRISE DTM
• Martian geomorphology
• radar reflections
• SHARAD