Tectonism in western Arabia Terra, Mars

Use a broad variety of remote sensing data, including the latest very high resolution
images (0.25-5 m/pixel) and digital elevation models from NASA and ESA spacecraft,
to understand the tectonic history of an important region of Mars and its effects on
ancient fluvial systems and proposed shorelines.
Work with ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover data following its landing in summer 2021. Develop skills in quantitative GIS, planetary morphostratigraphic mapping, stereo
photogrammetry Digital Elevation Model production, data synthesis and academic
writing.
Join a large, dynamic research group with active Mars mission and instrument
involvement, led by researchers working at the heart of UK planetary science.
Arabia Terra is one of the most ancient parts of Mars. Oxia Planum, the destination for ESA's
2020 ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover, is part of this region. Recent work has shown that
during Mars' ancient Noachian period (more than 3.7 billion years ago) Arabia Terra hosted extensive
river systems (1,2). In the west of the region, the fluvial landscape has been exhumed from
beneath younger sedimentary terrains, but has also been modified by tectonism operating on both regional and global scales.
The aim of this project is to assess the impact of regional tectonism on the geological history
of western Arabia Terra. The project will analyse tectonic features observed in remote sensing data to constrain models of long wavelength crustal flexure, and assess what impacts flexure has had on paleohydrology though time, including the implications for the elevation of proposed palaeoshoreline features and fluvial systems