Caracterização de complexo deltaico na superfície de Marte

Abstract

Mars, the red planet, has sparked human interest for centuries and has become a central focus in the contemporary space race. Space powers dedicate significant efforts to studying it with an eye toward colonization. Water plays a crucial role in this scenario, essential for life and a primary shaper of the Martian surface through weathering and erosion. Mars differentiated into crust, mantle, and core rapidly, and despite uncertainties about the original amount of available water, it is evident that conditions necessary for the presence and action of liquid water on the surface occurred multiple times during its Eras. The study focuses on a Martian deltaic complex, exploring its characteristics through data from NASA and USGS images, utilizing existing literature to study this deltaic system based on knowledge from analogous terrestrial systems. The deltaic complex is located in the Aeolis Dorsa region, an area within the Aeolis quadrangle, where a sedimentary basin rich in fluvial and deltaic deposits is found. Throughout the study, the deltaic complex was described, analyzed, classified, and compared with terrestrial analogs, highlighting the applicability of Sedimentology principles in the field of Astrogeology. This study contributes to advancing Astrogeology in Brazil and globally, exploring the application of terrestrial knowledge to celestial bodies and expanding our understanding of Martian geological processes. Mars continues to intrigue as a natural laboratory for understanding not only planetary geology but also investigating the viability of extraterrestrial life and future human missions. The study of depositional systems, such as deltas, not only reveals aspects of the planet's history but also drives the emerging field of Astrogeology, paving the way for future explorations and significant discoveries beyond Earth.