Characteristics and Climatic Indications of Ice-Related Landforms at Low Latitudes (0°–±30°) on Mars
The deposition and evolution of ice-rich materials on Martian surfaces offer valuable insights into climatic evolution and the potential driving forces behind global climate change. Substantial evidence indicates that the mid-latitudes of Mars played a crucial role in the formation and development o...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Yan Zhou Yu-Yan Sara Zhao Xiaoting Xu Yiran Wang |
| author_facet | Yan Zhou Yu-Yan Sara Zhao Xiaoting Xu Yiran Wang |
| author_sort | Yan Zhou |
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| description | The deposition and evolution of ice-rich materials on Martian surfaces offer valuable insights into climatic evolution and the potential driving forces behind global climate change. Substantial evidence indicates that the mid-latitudes of Mars played a crucial role in the formation and development of glacial and periglacial landforms during the Amazonian period. However, few studies have comprehensively examined ice-related landforms in the low-latitude region of Mars. Whether extensive glacial activity has occurred in the equatorial region of Mars and whether there are any potential geological records of such activities remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed remote sensing data from the Martian equatorial region (0°–±30°) and identified existing glacial/periglacial features, as well as remnant landforms of past glaciation. Our findings reveal that glaciation at low latitudes is more widespread than previously thought, with ice-related remnants extending as far equatorward as 13°N in the northern hemisphere and 19°S in the southern hemisphere, highlighting a broader latitudinal range for ice-related landforms. These landforms span multiple episodes of Martian geological history, supporting the hypothesis on the occurrence of repeated glaciation and various high-obliquity events. Evidence of dynamic interactions between ice deposition and sublimation in low-latitude regions demonstrates substantial ice loss over time, leaving ice-related remnants that provide valuable insights into Mars’ climatic evolution. Based on volumetric estimates of the concentric crater fill (CCF), the low-latitude regions of Mars may contain up to 1.05 × 10<sup>3</sup> km<sup>3</sup> of ice. This corresponds to a global equivalent ice layer thickness ranging from 21.7 mm (assuming a pore ice with 30% ice content) to 65.1 mm (assuming glacial ice with 90% ice content), suggesting a potentially greater low-latitude ice reservoir than previously recognized. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-189d5273291042dea7a2c8a788da2acd |
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| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj-art-189d5273291042dea7a2c8a788da2acd2025-08-20T02:33:08ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-06-011711193910.3390/rs17111939Characteristics and Climatic Indications of Ice-Related Landforms at Low Latitudes (0°–±30°) on MarsYan Zhou0Yu-Yan Sara Zhao1Xiaoting Xu2Yiran Wang3Research Center for Planetary Science, College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaResearch Center for Planetary Science, College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaResearch Center for Planetary Science, College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaDepartment of Earth and Space Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaThe deposition and evolution of ice-rich materials on Martian surfaces offer valuable insights into climatic evolution and the potential driving forces behind global climate change. Substantial evidence indicates that the mid-latitudes of Mars played a crucial role in the formation and development of glacial and periglacial landforms during the Amazonian period. However, few studies have comprehensively examined ice-related landforms in the low-latitude region of Mars. Whether extensive glacial activity has occurred in the equatorial region of Mars and whether there are any potential geological records of such activities remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed remote sensing data from the Martian equatorial region (0°–±30°) and identified existing glacial/periglacial features, as well as remnant landforms of past glaciation. Our findings reveal that glaciation at low latitudes is more widespread than previously thought, with ice-related remnants extending as far equatorward as 13°N in the northern hemisphere and 19°S in the southern hemisphere, highlighting a broader latitudinal range for ice-related landforms. These landforms span multiple episodes of Martian geological history, supporting the hypothesis on the occurrence of repeated glaciation and various high-obliquity events. Evidence of dynamic interactions between ice deposition and sublimation in low-latitude regions demonstrates substantial ice loss over time, leaving ice-related remnants that provide valuable insights into Mars’ climatic evolution. Based on volumetric estimates of the concentric crater fill (CCF), the low-latitude regions of Mars may contain up to 1.05 × 10<sup>3</sup> km<sup>3</sup> of ice. This corresponds to a global equivalent ice layer thickness ranging from 21.7 mm (assuming a pore ice with 30% ice content) to 65.1 mm (assuming glacial ice with 90% ice content), suggesting a potentially greater low-latitude ice reservoir than previously recognized.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/11/1939Marsequatorialburied iceglacialperiglacialclimate evolution |
| spellingShingle | Yan Zhou Yu-Yan Sara Zhao Xiaoting Xu Yiran Wang Characteristics and Climatic Indications of Ice-Related Landforms at Low Latitudes (0°–±30°) on Mars Remote Sensing Mars equatorial buried ice glacial periglacial climate evolution |
| title | Characteristics and Climatic Indications of Ice-Related Landforms at Low Latitudes (0°–±30°) on Mars |
| title_full | Characteristics and Climatic Indications of Ice-Related Landforms at Low Latitudes (0°–±30°) on Mars |
| title_fullStr | Characteristics and Climatic Indications of Ice-Related Landforms at Low Latitudes (0°–±30°) on Mars |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characteristics and Climatic Indications of Ice-Related Landforms at Low Latitudes (0°–±30°) on Mars |
| title_short | Characteristics and Climatic Indications of Ice-Related Landforms at Low Latitudes (0°–±30°) on Mars |
| title_sort | characteristics and climatic indications of ice related landforms at low latitudes 0° 30° on mars |
| topic | Mars equatorial buried ice glacial periglacial climate evolution |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/11/1939 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yanzhou characteristicsandclimaticindicationsoficerelatedlandformsatlowlatitudes030onmars AT yuyansarazhao characteristicsandclimaticindicationsoficerelatedlandformsatlowlatitudes030onmars AT xiaotingxu characteristicsandclimaticindicationsoficerelatedlandformsatlowlatitudes030onmars AT yiranwang characteristicsandclimaticindicationsoficerelatedlandformsatlowlatitudes030onmars |