Abstract
Aqueous activities on Mars have gradually declined since the Noachian (>3.7 Ga). Although water can be stored in the subsurface during the latest epochs, geomorphological evidence is still limited. In this study, we used in situ imaging and spectral data acquired by China's Zhurong rover, as well as high-resolution remote-sensing data, to investigate the transverse aeolian ridges (TARs) in the Zhurong landing region of Utopia Planitia. A two-stage evolutionary scenario of the TARs is proposed and polygonal features with hydrated minerals are identified for the first time on the surface of Martian TARs. We discussed the possible formation mechanisms of the polygonal features, and proposed that they could be related to recent aqueous activity and atmosphere-surface water exchange on Mars, which sheds light on the hydrological cycle of Mars in current cold and dry climate.
Key Points
Morphology and evolution of the transverse aeolian ridges (TARs) in the Zhurong landing region are studied
Polygonal features with hydrated minerals are identified on some of the TARs investigated by the Zhurong rover
The polygons could be related to very recent aqueous activity and atmosphere-surface water exchange on Mars