PHLEGRA MONTES: CHARACTERIZATION OF AN ICE RICH LANDSCAPE

In this presentation we report the findings of our detailed investigation of glacial morphologies at Martian mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere, within the Phlegra Montes region (~ 161-165°W, 34-39°N). The region comprises highly eroded massifs with rounded peaks, flanked and surrounded by landforms typically associated with glacial environments. We conducted a detailed survey of the area using Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Context Camera (CTX) imagery and Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) topographic data. We identified and mapped a varied array of glacial landforms and terrain features, such as: lobate debris aprons, concentric crater fills, large impact craters with fluidized ejecta morphologies, pedestal craters, terraced craters, and extensive lowland plain mantling units. The evidence points to a complex and dynamic past. Based on our interpretation of the glacio-morphological history of the region, we developed a conceptual model of ice deposition, accumulation, preservation, and loss, identifying potential indicators of persistent reservoirs of shallow ice. Our findings are of importance both for our continued efforts toward understanding of past and present geophysical processes on Mars, and for informing decisions regarding future human missions to the planet.