Comparison of ground- and aerial-based approaches for quantifying polygonal terrain network geometry on Earth and Mars via spatial point pattern analysis

Haltigin, T. W.; Pollard, W. H.; Dutilleul, Pierre

doi:10.1016/j.pss.2010.08.008

Cited by 12 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Geophysical methods such as ground penetrating radar (GPR) are becoming more sophisticated in detecting the dimensions of subsurface ice bodies and could provide valuable data for such assessments (Munroe et al , ; Bode et al , ; Watanabe et al , ). Third, our image‐based polygon‐mapping approach probably underestimates ice‐wedge density because some polygon cracks or ice‐wedge troughs have little or no visible surface expression (Haltigin et al , ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying Wedge-Ice Volumes in Yedoma and Thermokarst Basin Deposits

Ulrich

Grosse

Strauß

et al. 2014

Permafrost and Periglac. Process.

119

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Wedge-ice volume (WIV) is a key factor in assessing the response of ice-rich permafrost landscapes to thaw and in quantifying deep permafrost soil carbon inventories. Here, we present a method for calculating WIV in late Pleistocene Yedoma deposits and Holocene thermokarst basin deposits at four study areas in Siberia and Alaska. Ice-wedge polygons and thermokarst mound (baydzherakh) patterns were mapped on different landscape units using very high-resolution (0.5 m/pixel) satellite imagery (WorldView-1 and GeoEye-1). In a geographic information system (GIS) environment, Thiessen polygons were automatically created to reconstruct relict ice-wedge polygonal networks, and field and published data on ice-wedge dimensions were used to generate three-dimensional subsurface models that distinguish between epi-and syngenetic ice-wedge geometry. The results reveal significant variations in WIV between the study sites and within certain terrain units. Calculated maximum WIV ranges from 31.4 to 63.2 vol% for Yedoma deposits and from 6.6 to 13.2 vol% for thermokarst basin deposits.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying Wedge-Ice Volumes in Yedoma and Thermokarst Basin Deposits

Ulrich

Grosse

Strauß

et al. 2014

Permafrost and Periglac. Process.

119

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“…In future work, further parameters reflecting not only topography but also subsurface and climate conditions should be included in the statistics. Furthermore, in cooperation with other quantitative methods like spatial point pattern analysis (SPPA) (e.g., Dutilleul et al, 2009;Haltigin et al, 2010), a more detailed understanding of diverse polygonal geomorphometry can be achieved and linked to individual formation processes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, even if most of the conclusions about Martian polygon evolution are very detailed and plausible, they frequently offer only qualitative explanations. Only a few studies have been done regarding polygon geomorphometry on Mars using quantitative methods (e.g., Rossbacher, 1986;Pina et al, 2008;Dutilleul et al, 2009;Haltigin et al, 2010). Therefore, based on very-high-resolution stereo remote-sensing data, comparative quantitative terrain analysis in combination with geomorphological and sedimentological field data from terrestrial polygons was used to verify the hypothesis that polygonal structures on Earth and Mars, which are similar in appearance, originate from comparable processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polygon pattern geomorphometry on Svalbard (Norway) and western Utopia Planitia (Mars) using high-resolution stereo remote-sensing data

et al. 2011

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Polygonal systems formed by thermal contraction cracking are complex landscape features widespread in terrestrial periglacial regions. The manner in which cracking occurs is controlled by various environmental factors and determines dimension, shape, and orientation of polygons. Analogous small-scale features are ubiquitous in Martian mid-and high-latitudes, and they are also inferred to originate from thermal contraction cracking. We studied the geomorphometry of polygonally-patterned ground on Svalbard to draw a terrestrial analogy to small-scale polygonal structures in scalloped terrain in Martian mid-latitudes. We performed a comparative quantitative terrain analysis based on high-resolution stereo remote-sensing data (HRSC-AX and HiRISE) in combination with terrestrial field data and multivariate statistics to determine the relationship of polygon geomorphometry to local environmental conditions. Results show that polygonal structures on Svalbard and in Utopia Planitia on Mars are similar with respect to their size and shape. A comparable thermal contraction cracking genesis is likely. Polygon evolution, however, is strongly related to regional and local landscape dynamics. Individual polygon dimensions and orthogonality vary according to age, thermal contraction cracking activity, and local subsurface conditions. Based on these findings, the effects of specific past and current environmental conditions on polygon formation on Mars must be considered. On both Earth and Mars, the smallest polygons represent young, recently-active low-centered polygons that formed in fine-grained ice-rich material. Small, low-centered Martian polygons show the closest analogy to terrestrial low-centered ice-wedge polygons. The formation of composite wedges could have occurred as a result of local geomorphological conditions during past Martian orbital configurations. Larger polygons reflect past climate conditions on both Earth and Mars. The present degradation of these polygons depends on relief and topographical situation. On Svalbard the thawing of ice wedges degrades high-centered polygons; in contrast, the present appearance of polygons in Utopia Planitia is primarily the result of contemporary dry degradation processes.

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“…A complete explanation of SPPA is given in Diggle (2003), while its application to polygonal terrain is described in Dutilleul et al (2009) and Haltigin et al (2010). A brief summary is provided here.…”

Section: Overview Of Sppa Application To Polygonal Terrainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geometric Evolution of Polygonal Terrain Networks in the Canadian High Arctic: Evidence of Increasing Regularity over Time

Haltigin

Pollard

Dutilleul

et al. 2012

Permafrost & Periglacial

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Polygon networks are usually described qualitatively as becoming more regular through time, but such a concept has yet to be demonstrated numerically. The aim of this study is to address this question quantitatively in order to determine if polygonal terrain networks actually become more regular as they develop. Spatial point pattern analysis (SPPA), which can quantify overall network geometries based on the randomness or regularity exhibited by the spatial arrangement of polygon‐bounding trough intersections, was used at three ice‐wedge polygon sites in the Canadian High Arctic. SPPA was applied in two ways: (i) on the present‐day networks observed in the field; and (ii) on historical arrangements derived by distinguishing primary from secondary troughs. In all cases, the polygonal networks had undergone a statistically significant regularisation over the course of their development. Although the method was applied only to terrestrial ice‐wedge polygons, such an approach may also be useful for interpreting the evolution of Antarctic sublimation polygons and geometrically similar polygonal networks on Mars. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada.

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Comparison of ground- and aerial-based approaches for quantifying polygonal terrain network geometry on Earth and Mars via spatial point pattern analysis

Cited by 12 publications

References 30 publications

Quantifying Wedge-Ice Volumes in Yedoma and Thermokarst Basin Deposits

Quantifying Wedge-Ice Volumes in Yedoma and Thermokarst Basin Deposits

Polygon pattern geomorphometry on Svalbard (Norway) and western Utopia Planitia (Mars) using high-resolution stereo remote-sensing data

Geometric Evolution of Polygonal Terrain Networks in the Canadian High Arctic: Evidence of Increasing Regularity over Time

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