martian ice and hydrates

the story of water on Mars over the last three billion years is that of ice and hydrates. determining the location and role of water on mars today requires understanding the properties of ice and hydrates under martian conditions. so the question that my research seeks to answer is twofold: (1) how much ice and bound water is there on Mars today, and (2) where is it most likely to be?

during my fellowship i will break down the above questions into individual parts that can be addressed directly: (1) to what depth can ice, hydrates and liquid water exist on mars today as a function of latitude and topography; (2) what role does the thickness and composition of surface mantling material play in the long-term stability of ice and hydrates on mars today; and (3) can long-term processes, such as solid-state creep, give rise to sudden water-forming events such as recent gully formation?

i am addressing these questions with a multi-disciplinary program of laboratory experiments, computer modelling, and observations of martian landforms. the results of these studies will further our understanding of water reservoirs on Mars, with important implications for landing site selection and science exploitation from the exomars lander, in addition to the prospects for life on mars.

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