Remotely sensed surface deformation on Mars and Earth: Mechanics and analysis.

摘要

This dissertation focuses on assessing surface deformation using remote sensing techniques to solve three current geophysical issues. These issues are addressed as complete chapters; two of which have been accepted for publication in peer reviewed journals. Coulomb failure stresses are calculated in Hesperia Planum, Mars to test the possibility of fault reactivation on the basis of observations made with high resolution topography and visible images from MOLA and MOC. The orthogonal network of wrinkle ridges was found to be a product of a stress rotation of 90° between the ancient Noachian and geologically recent Amazonian time stratigraphic units on Mars. High resolution topography and images were also used to analyze graben formation either by a fault-controlled or dike-controlled process south of Arsia Mons, Mars. It was found that this area, just south of the Tharsis region on Mars, has a long and varied magmatic history. Active surface deformation was also explored in this dissertation. Since Mars is geologically inactive, the third part of this dissertation focuses on Earth and utilizes InSAR and GPS techniques. Seasonal elastic surface deformation due to groundwater pumping and re-injection, in the Reno, Nevada area, was found where the aquifer was fully recharged.