In this seminar Susan will talk about frozen landscapes on Earth and Mars. Firstly, landslides in permafrost on Earth, which generate “molards”—cones of debris which result from the melting of ice-cemented blocks of materials transported by the landslide. She will show that these are unique markers of permafrost degradation in mountain permafrost on Earth and much more common than we initially realised.
Next, she’ll move to Mars and she will talk about recent progress that her group have made in studying debris covered glaciers on Mars. Her team found a concentration of hundred-metre-thick steep-fronted glaciers in the Alba Mons region, which appear to be advancing and retreating simultaneously. A curiosity, but also providing important constraints on Mars’ recent glacial history.
Finally, Susan will talk about an intriguing cellular surface texture on Martian debris covered glaciers. Her team have shown it is due to the interaction of impact crater ejecta and the glacier. Recognition of the origin of this distinctive texture opens up new research avenues because it can be used as a reliable stratigraphic marker.