Assessment of Morphology and Degradation of Craters in and Around Gale Crater, Mars Using High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) Images

In the present study, high resolution stereo camera DEM and Martian crater catalog data have been used to analyze 154 craters with radii ranging from 900 m to 23 kms in the Gale crater and surrounding region. These craters are classified based on crater shape and crater degradation using morphometric parameters like crater rim, diameter, depth, slope, circularity index, and topographic roughness index (TRI). A positive linear correlation was observed between diameter and depth with R-2 of 0.66 for small craters and 0.81 for large craters. A similar positive trend was observed between diameter and slope for small craters, whereas it was negative for large craters. TRI showed no correlation with diameter. As per crater degradation, 19.48% of the craters were found to be in class A (Fresh crater), 53.89% were in class B (Moderately degraded) and 26.62% were in class C (Degraded). For round floored craters, maximum craters were found to be in Class B and Class A and very few in Class C. In case of flat floored craters, maximum craters were falling under class B and Class C and very few in class A. Further, it was found that a maximum number of craters (102 out of 154) were found to be flat floored and degraded which may be due to the possible erosional or infilling activities.