Rates and processes controlling periglacial alluvial fan formation: Implications for martian fans

Alluvial fans are found across a range of climates and are built from a combination of fluvial and debris flow processes. Correct identification of process is critical to recon-structing the climate and water histories of alluvial fans on Earth and Mars. Theory and data from subaerial Earth fans are often used to estimate paleoflow discharges and sediment fluxes for martian fans; however, most terrestrial work has been conducted on fans that are in hot, dry climates with runoff sourced from rainfall. This differs from the prevailing interpretation that martian fans were sourced from snowmelt under warming periglacial conditions. To characterize pro-cesses and rates of periglacial fan formation, we conducted a field-based study of the Black Mountain alluvial fan in the Aklavik Range, Canada. We observed active fluvial bedload transport as well as several small debris flows that had initiated from ice-filled gullies. Following a runoff event of-0.005 mm/hr to-0.2 mm/hr across the fan, we estimated sediment fluxes of-0.04 m3/hr. Under bank -full conditions, we estimated runoff rates between-0.01 mm/hr to-14 mm/hr and cor-responding sediment fluxes of-0.3 m3/hr to-550 m3/hr. This suggests that moderate flow events, well below the maximum runoff pro-duction rates suggested for Mars, are capable of entraining and transporting appreciable amounts of sediment by fluvial processes. However, sedimentological and geomorpho-logical observations suggest that-67% of the fan was deposited fluvially; the remainder was deposited by mass flows. Our results em phasize the need to take care in interpreting martian sedimentary processes and climate from fan surface morphology alone.

Automated summary

Alluvial fans are formed by the interaction of fluvial and debris flow processes in various climates. Correct identification of these processes is crucial for reconstructing the climate and water history of alluvial fans on Earth and Mars. Current understanding is primarily based on terrestrial fans in hot, dry climates, while the prevailing interpretation for Martian fans is that they were sourced from snowmelt under warming periglacial conditions. In order to characterize periglacial fan formation processes, a field study was conducted on the Black Mountain alluvial fan in Canada. The study found active fluvial bedload transport and small debris flows resulting from ice-filled gullies. The results emphasize the need to be cautious in interpreting Martian sedimentary processes and climate based solely on fan surface morphology.