The Relationship between Martian Terrains and Crater Size Distributions

Faculty Sponsor: Maryam Gooyabadi

Live Poster Session: Zoom Link

Shital Oli

Shital Oli is a sophomore at Wesleyan University, studying Computer Science and Data Analysis. She grew up in Boston, MA but ethnically she is from Kathmandu, Nepal. During her free time she enjoys reading, traveling, and playing lacrosse. 

Abstract: Mars, like other planets in our solar system, is estimated to be around 4.6 billion years old. Due to its proximity to Earth and its strikingly similar features, Mars has been a key focus of scientific study. Over the past several decades, scientists have deployed landers, rovers, and photographic instruments to better understand the global mineral composition and geomorphology of Mars.  In the last 55 years, rock samples from Mars have provided crucial evidence about the planet’s interior composition. These samples have enabled scientists to explore the chemical and isotopic makeup of the Martian mantle, the evolution of volatile compounds, and the processes of impacts and weathering. The visual identification of impact craters on planetary crusts is one of the most widely accepted methods for gaining insights into the composition of Mars’ crust. The goals of this analysis are as follows: 1) establish the relationship between crater size and its geographical location, and 2) determine whether geographical location correlates with the volume of the crater. This study will investigate and compare various crater sizes while examining the specific regions of Mars where they are located, in order to assess whether the impactor’s location influences the size of the resulting crater.

The-Relationship-between-Martian-Terrains-and-Crater-Size-Distributions