Channels By: Ryssa Asuncion Chance Kamaka Chance Kamaka Joshua Ramelb Joshua Ramelb Daisge Smith Daisge Smith

Research Question Where are the oldest channels on Mars located? Our research question is important because scientist could study those certain areas and possibly find the answer to what really caused those channels to form. Our question is also interesting because finding out how the channels were formed could lead us to determine whether or not water had been on Mars, meaning there may have been a chance for life to exist on Mars.

Hypothesis If water existed on Mars, then the oldest channels could be located near the poles because that’s where the water might exist and that’s what could have created the oldest channels.

Background Information Channels may have been formed by catastrophic forms of water. Water may exist two layers beneath the surface of mars under carbon dioxide. Most channels are overlapped by other craters. (preserved/modified craters) Most channels don’t overlap any other feature.

Methods Spacecraft NASA’s Mars Odyssey Camera THEMIS Camera Image Type Visible Images- to see details within the crater MOLA- to see context of image/depth Geologic Features Studied -Channels overlapping features -Features overlapping channels -Location Geographic Regions We Focused on North and South Poles

Methods Continue… Sample Size 80 THEMIS images used to gather data. Categories of data to be collected and “Why” Image ID number- keep track of the specific image analyzed. Latitude/Longitude- Keep track of locations and their proximity MISC. Data- To record any other interesting information not warranted by our necessary data categories but certainly important to our study. Measurement Rough estimation relative to image parameters based on THEMI Camera’s visible image range 18km. Channels Overlap- See if channels are older Features Overlap- See if features are older.

THEMIS Image ID Longitude (E/W) Latitude (N/S) Features Overlaps Channel OverlapsMisc. Observations V XModified crater overlapping channel V Preserved and modified craters/ wind streaks V Channels V XPreserved craters V XModified craters/ Valley Networks V XModified craters V Destroyed/Modified craters V XModified/Preserved craters V Modified/Preserved craters V XDestroyed/Modified/Preserved craters V Destroyed/Preserved craters/ Lava flows V Preserved craters V Modified craters/ Valley Networks V Preserved craters DATA ANALYSIS

V XModified craters V X Destroyed/Modified/Preserved craters V X X Destroyed/Preserved craters/ Lavaflows V XModified craters V X XDestroyed/Modified craters V X Modified craters/ Valley Networks V X Channel gets deeper towards top of picture V X X Channel gets deeper towards top of picture V XModified Craters V XModified Craters V X XModified/Destroyed Crater V Destroyed Crater V XChannel is Old/Big V XPreserved/Modified Craters V XDestroyed Channel

V Modified Channel V Young Channel V XValley Networks V XChannel is covered with dust V X XChannel is very young V X XDestroyed Channel V XChannel is very big V XChannel is extremely young V XChannel is big and old V XPreserved Channel V XPreserved Channel

V XXwhite channel V XXmodified craters V XXcenteal peak V XXshadows V XXcenteral peak V XXdestroyed craters V XXchannels all over V XXdestroyed craters V XXdestroyed craters V XCraters V XX different crater overlapping V X destroyed craters overlap V X lots of preserved craters

V Xzigzag shaped V Xlots of cones V Xpreserved craters overlapping V Xdestroyed craters overlap V Xmostly destroyed craters V Xlots of craters growing over V Xpreserved craters overlapping V Xoverlaps destroyed craters V Xpreserved craters overlapping V Xlots of preserved craters V Xoverlapping destroyed craters V Xpreserve craters overlap V Xpreserve craters overlap V Xmodified overlapped V Xoverlaps caldera

V XXpreserved overlapped V Xcones overlapping V Xpreserved overlaps