Laser Altimetry Data from the Mars Global Surveyor
Updated July 26, 2001 |
The ongoing Mars Global Surveyor mission has collected over 600 million surface elevation measurements with the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter instrument. With the computing resources of the W. M. Keck Earth Sciences and Mining Research Information Center, researchers in the Department of Geological Sciences interact with the data to create high resolution digital elevation models of the surface of Mars. These DEM's provide 3-D visualizations of the Martian surface, which are used in studies of fault and rock mechanics. Recently, researchers have used this data to study the stability of rock masses within Vallis Marineris and also to understand the fault mechanics of the Tempe extensional rift zone. |
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Ceranius Tholus (background) and Uranius Tholus (foreground) volcanoes. |
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The view looking east from within Coprates Chasma. |
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Map view of the Coprates Chasma region of eastern Vallis Marineris. |
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Oblique aerial view of the Tempe rift looking southeast. |
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Oblique aerial view of the Tempe rift looking northwest. |
