Modeling Bright Gully Deposits' Formation in Hale Crater, Mars: Implications for Recent Liquid Water

Abstract

This study aims at uncovering the formation mechanism of the recent bright gully deposits observed on Mars in order to assess the viability of liquid water involvement. I use a high resolution topography model as input into a kinematic model to assess whether or not a dry granular flow could form the bright gully deposits seen in Hale Crater. I investigate a dry mechanism due to the difficulty of producing water on the martian surface under present-day pressure and temperature conditions. I examine a range of particle sizes, flow thicknesses, and upslope initiation points to examine how these parameters affect the run-out distances of flows. The results show that multiple combinations of parameters could produce flows that travel to within the observed deposits' boundaries. The results suggest that the recent bright gully deposits are not evidence of recent liquid water on the surface of Mars.