Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9429-5601

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Crane, Kelsey T

Committee Member

Klimczak, Christian

Committee Member

Padmanava, Dash

Date of Degree

12-8-2023

Original embargo terms

Embargo 1 Year

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Geology

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Geosciences

Abstract

The lithosphere of Mars accommodates shortening through folding and faulting, producing landforms qualitatively categorized as wrinkle ridges or lobate scarps. However, we lack a deep understanding of the morphological differences between these landforms. This study aimed to develop a quantitative model for shortening landform classification based on surface morphology and subsurface architecture. We developed this model by mapping 100 landforms in a GIS, recording parameters for each landform. We conducted a Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) using these morphometrics. This DFA produced a predictive linear function for categorizing wrinkle ridges and lobate scarps. We then modeled the subsurface structural geology of 50 landforms using MOVE Structural Geology Modeling Software and conducted a second DFA on subsurface metrics. These analyses revealed the three most important variables when classifying shortening structures. Our results show that by using the surface morphology and subsurface geometry together, they can be distinguished quantitatively 96% of the time.

Available for download on Sunday, December 15, 2024

Share

COinS