Rheological properties and ages of lava flows on Alba Mons, Mars

We present the results of our studies of the rheological properties and ages on Alba Mons lava flows. Previous studies have shown that the rheology of lava flows, such as yield strength and viscosity, as well as external parameters affecting flow characteristics, such as effusion rate and eruption duration can be derived by remotely sensed dimension measurements. The calculations made in this study are based on images obtained from the Context Camera (CTX) on board of NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) as well as data from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) on NASA's Mars Global Surveyor (MGS). Absolute model ages (AMAs) have been derived by performing crater size-frequency distribution (CSFD) measurements on CTX images. The main objectives of this investigation are not only the calculation of the rheological properties and ages, but also the analysis of possible correlations between the rheologies, ages and distances of the flows to the volcano's center. A comparison of the rheological properties of the investigated lavas with those reported for flows on other planetary bodies was also performed. The aim of the study is a better insight into the history of one of the largest volcanoes in the Solar System. We provide new information about the formation and composition of the volcano's lava flows, whether they changed over time, and until when Alba Mons has been active.