Nearest-Neighbour Analysis: A Technique for Quantitative Evaluation of Polygonal Ground Patterns

Rossbacher, L. A.

doi:10.2307/521180

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Polygonal terrain is one of the most distinctive landscape features found in terrestrial permafrost environments. The interconnected furrow‐like depressions that outline each polygonal shape originate as a rheological response to environmental forcing (French, ), resulting in overall network patterns that can range in appearance from heterogeneously‐sized, randomly‐shaped polygons to more evenly sized, well‐ordered systems (Rossbacher, ; Banderia et al , ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geometric Evolution of Polygonal Terrain Networks in the Canadian High Arctic: Evidence of Increasing Regularity over Time

Haltigin

Pollard

Dutilleul

et al. 2012

Permafrost & Periglacial

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Polygon networks are usually described qualitatively as becoming more regular through time, but such a concept has yet to be demonstrated numerically. The aim of this study is to address this question quantitatively in order to determine if polygonal terrain networks actually become more regular as they develop. Spatial point pattern analysis (SPPA), which can quantify overall network geometries based on the randomness or regularity exhibited by the spatial arrangement of polygon‐bounding trough intersections, was used at three ice‐wedge polygon sites in the Canadian High Arctic. SPPA was applied in two ways: (i) on the present‐day networks observed in the field; and (ii) on historical arrangements derived by distinguishing primary from secondary troughs. In all cases, the polygonal networks had undergone a statistically significant regularisation over the course of their development. Although the method was applied only to terrestrial ice‐wedge polygons, such an approach may also be useful for interpreting the evolution of Antarctic sublimation polygons and geometrically similar polygonal networks on Mars. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geometric Evolution of Polygonal Terrain Networks in the Canadian High Arctic: Evidence of Increasing Regularity over Time

Haltigin

Pollard

Dutilleul

et al. 2012

Permafrost & Periglacial

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“…72. The Martian polygons generally have a statistically more regular than random pattern [ Rossbacher , 1985, 1986].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Origin of the polygons and the thickness of Vastitas Borealis Formation in Western Utopia Planitia on Mars

Yoshikawa

2003

Geophysical Research Letters

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Many middle scale (about 100m cracking space) polygons are located between the area of the giant polygons and the thumbprint terrains in Western Utopia Planitia. Most of the patterns are located on Vastitas Borealis Formation. The polygonal patterns have frequently been associated with collapsed features, such as a covered trough like features(the width of the underground crack is approximately 400–500 m). The thickness of the surface materials (6–12 m), where polygonal patterns occur, was calculated based on the space of cracking relationship. Polygonal networks with strongly oriented features and parallel to the contour line are likely caused by structural (geological) origin as well as bending forces from the center of the basin.

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“…However, even if most of the conclusions about Martian polygon evolution are very detailed and plausible, they frequently offer only qualitative explanations. Only a few studies have been done regarding polygon geomorphometry on Mars using quantitative methods (e.g., Rossbacher, 1986;Pina et al, 2008;Dutilleul et al, 2009;Haltigin et al, 2010). Therefore, based on very-high-resolution stereo remote-sensing data, comparative quantitative terrain analysis in combination with geomorphological and sedimentological field data from terrestrial polygons was used to verify the hypothesis that polygonal structures on Earth and Mars, which are similar in appearance, originate from comparable processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polygon pattern geomorphometry on Svalbard (Norway) and western Utopia Planitia (Mars) using high-resolution stereo remote-sensing data

et al. 2011

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Polygonal systems formed by thermal contraction cracking are complex landscape features widespread in terrestrial periglacial regions. The manner in which cracking occurs is controlled by various environmental factors and determines dimension, shape, and orientation of polygons. Analogous small-scale features are ubiquitous in Martian mid-and high-latitudes, and they are also inferred to originate from thermal contraction cracking. We studied the geomorphometry of polygonally-patterned ground on Svalbard to draw a terrestrial analogy to small-scale polygonal structures in scalloped terrain in Martian mid-latitudes. We performed a comparative quantitative terrain analysis based on high-resolution stereo remote-sensing data (HRSC-AX and HiRISE) in combination with terrestrial field data and multivariate statistics to determine the relationship of polygon geomorphometry to local environmental conditions. Results show that polygonal structures on Svalbard and in Utopia Planitia on Mars are similar with respect to their size and shape. A comparable thermal contraction cracking genesis is likely. Polygon evolution, however, is strongly related to regional and local landscape dynamics. Individual polygon dimensions and orthogonality vary according to age, thermal contraction cracking activity, and local subsurface conditions. Based on these findings, the effects of specific past and current environmental conditions on polygon formation on Mars must be considered. On both Earth and Mars, the smallest polygons represent young, recently-active low-centered polygons that formed in fine-grained ice-rich material. Small, low-centered Martian polygons show the closest analogy to terrestrial low-centered ice-wedge polygons. The formation of composite wedges could have occurred as a result of local geomorphological conditions during past Martian orbital configurations. Larger polygons reflect past climate conditions on both Earth and Mars. The present degradation of these polygons depends on relief and topographical situation. On Svalbard the thawing of ice wedges degrades high-centered polygons; in contrast, the present appearance of polygons in Utopia Planitia is primarily the result of contemporary dry degradation processes.

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Nearest-Neighbour Analysis: A Technique for Quantitative Evaluation of Polygonal Ground Patterns

Cited by 15 publications

References 7 publications

Geometric Evolution of Polygonal Terrain Networks in the Canadian High Arctic: Evidence of Increasing Regularity over Time

Geometric Evolution of Polygonal Terrain Networks in the Canadian High Arctic: Evidence of Increasing Regularity over Time

Origin of the polygons and the thickness of Vastitas Borealis Formation in Western Utopia Planitia on Mars

Polygon pattern geomorphometry on Svalbard (Norway) and western Utopia Planitia (Mars) using high-resolution stereo remote-sensing data

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