Glacial and Permafrost Dynamics on Mars: Insights into Martian Climate, Hydrology and Habitability

This project aims to investigate glacial and permafrost landforms on Mars, focusing on regions such as Nilosyrtis Mensae, Nereidum, and Hellas Montes, which exhibit similarities to terrestrial glacial features.

These Martian landforms are of interest because they may indicate past climate changes and the presence of transient liquid water, making them significant for understanding Mars´ habitability potential and past climate conditions.Using analogs in Svalbard and northern Sweden, the project seeks to understand the evolution of Martian surface processes and climate conditions.

By cataloging, categorizing and mapping ice-related landforms on Mars and conducting detailed morphometric analyses, this project aims to reconstruct the history of Martian glaciation, permafrost dynamics, and potential hydrological activity.Key questions include whether cold-based glaciers or subglacial hydrology played predominant roles in Martian glaciation, the timing and duration of climate changes, and the temporal relationships between periglacial and glacial conditions.

The project utilizes various datasets from European and international missions, including high-resolution imagery and digital elevation models, to analyze landscape dynamics on Mars and Earth.The significance of this research extends beyond planetary science, as understanding Martian glacial and permafrost processes has implications for astrobiology, resource utilization for future manned missions, and climate studies.

Insights gained from this project could help identify environments on Mars suitable for life and valuable resources for future exploration efforts.