Sensing the Hydrogeomorphology and Palaeohydrologic Features of Mars Planet with Inference from the Egyptian Desert: An Insight from Satellite Images

Abstract

The water access in any planet of the universe can be considered a crucial evidence for life existence. The study of Mars has special importance where it has a complex preserved geological record of a time period longer than on Earth. Many regions of Mars planet are subjected to observations through the obtained satellite images in comparison to similar areas from the Earth (Egyptian deserts). The present study presents observations from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) and Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) colorized digital terrain model (DTM), indicate that many existed landforms could reveal the palaeohydrology of Mars. The regional structural lineaments (joints and/or faults) are extracted and mapped where the main trend is NE-SW. These lineaments are thought to be responsible with erosion processes about the origination of the drainage network of Mars. The hydrogeomorphology of Mars planet suggests past wetter conditions where the transition from wet to dry surface conditions is evidenced through a variations in the spatial distribution of drainage networks. It can be thought that the selected landforms in this study (drainages, deltas, gorges, paleo-lakes, paleo-channel), are revealing an ancient wet climates where precipitation was leading to surface runoff with main role of the tectonic influences existed on structural lineaments and rifts. The current study suggests two landing sites (Jazero delta and Eberswalde Delta) for the next Mars 2020 mission taking in consideration that these sites had potential of water resources that may be provide chances for past life existence until the microbial level.