1. Surface Features on Mars
Dr. Joshua Bandfield
Mars Space Flight Facility
Arizona State University

2. Mars has Many Types of Surface Features
Impact Craters
Volcanic Features
Fluvial/Water-Related Features
Layers
Aeolian/Wind Features 2

3. All THEMIS visible images
are ~18 km across
Crater Ejecta
Material that gets thrown out of a crater when a meteorite hits the surface
Sometimes looks rougher than the surrounding terrain
Most THEMIS images are taken during the afternoon and the sun is shining from the left side of the image 7
Crater in Elysium Planitia 18N, 136E

4. Rampart Craters
Have distinct ejecta that looks like it flowed across the surface
Probably due to ice or liquid water in the subsurface when crater formed
Rampart Crater in Acidalia
Planitia 28N, 319E 8

5. Crater Morphology
Morphology (shape) will look different based on age and size:
Large craters: Central peaks, rings and/or slumping walls
Old craters: Eroded and have ‘softer’ features
3 ‘types’ of craters:
Preserved
Modified
Destroyed
Central Peak
Slumps 9
Arabia Terra 18N, 6E

6. Modified Craters Craters can be eroded or modified by: Wind Water Lava
Orcus Patera 16N, 183E
Ares Vallis 16N, 330E
Modified Craters
Craters can be eroded or modified by:
Wind
Water
Lava 10

7. Volcanic Features
Many types of surface features are associated with volcanoes:
Volcanic structures
Lava flows
Calderas
Lava Tubes/Channels
Olympus Mons (shown here) is a shield-like volcano the size of the state of Arizona! 13
Olympus Mons 18N, 230E (Wide Angle)

8. Volcanics on Mars Volcanic activity has dominated the surface of Mars
Ascraeus Mons
Pavonis Mons
Arsia Mons
Alba Patera
Olympus Mons
Volcanic activity has dominated the surface of Mars
Tharsis is a huge (1/3 of the planet) volcanic region that consists of 3 shield-like volcanoes
Olympus Mons, Alba Patera and other small volcanoes are evident in this area 14

9. Lava Flows There are many lava flows on Mars of all ages
These are similar to lava flows that we see in places like Hawaii, but can be much larger!
Daedalia Planum
-26N, 232E 15

10. Apollinaris Patera Caldera
Multiple basins in the caldera
Channels along the flank
Lat: 9.3 S
Lon: E
THEMIS Day IR Mosaic 18 6

11. Dust Devil Tracks Dust devils pick dust up in to the atmosphere
They can act like vacuum cleaners and leave dust-free tracks behind them
Argyre Planitia
-47N, 318E 35

12. Wind Streaks
Wind streaks form behind topographic features (such as crater rims)
Dust can be deposited or scoured in a wind streak 36
Syrtis Major 0N, 72E

13. Dunes Dunes are wind blown piles of sand
Sand dunes on Mars are often dark because they are made of basaltic sand
Sand Dunes in Kaiser Crater
-47N, 19E 37

14. Surface Features on Mars
Impact Craters
Volcanic Features
Fluvial/Water-Related Features
Layers
Aeolian/Wind Features 39

15. Mars Maps Mars Regions Zoom in to see details
Also see: 40