ESTIMATING HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY FROM DRAINAGE PATTERNS- A COMPARISON CASE STUDY IN THE CASCADE RANGE, OREGON AND THE MARE TYRRHENUM QUADRANGLE ON MARS

This study introduces a new method of estimating hydraulic conductivity on Mars from drainage dissection patterns. This method was first tested on Earth in the Oregon Cascades and provided accurate results in terms of orders of magnitude and spatial distribution. The estimates of hydraulic conductivity are also consistent with previous studies for Mars and the method has solid theoretical foundation in Darcy’s Law for groundwater flow. Along with providing a direct measurement of hydraulic conductivity this study also shows spatial variability in hydraulic conductivity for the first time on Mars. The results of this study found that hydraulic conductivity in the Mare Tyrrhenum Quadrangle have an average rate in the range of 10-2 m/s to 10-5 m/s, which is typical of permeable basalt. This method represents an effective and efficient way of estimating hydraulic conductivity, and is especially beneficial for areas where human testing is not practical such as Mars.