The Haughton-Mars Project: Overview of science investigations at the Haughton impact structure and surrounding terrains, and relevance to planetary studies

Abstract

The Haughton impact structure (23 km in diameter) on Devon Island, High Arctic, has been the subject of a number of scientific investigations since its identification as an impact structure in the early 1970s (see Grieve 1988 for a summary). Due to its near polar location (75.2°N, 89.5°W), Haughton has experienced a predominantly cold and relatively dry climate throughout most of its history, and is for this reason exceptionally well preserved considering its age (~39 Ma). While by no means subject to environmental conditions as extreme as those encountered on Mars at present, the structure's general climatic setting in a terrestrial polar desert (annual average temperature is -16 °C; annual precipitation is <13 mm)-including the implied continuous permafrost underlying its terrains-and the presence of a number of other geologic features at or near the crater that bear possible relevance to Mars, make the site attractive as a potential analog for Mars (Lee 1997). Haughton is the only terrestrial impact structure known to be set in a polar desert.In 1997, a pilot study was initiated to visit Haughton with an eye towards comparative planetary studies (with focus on Mars) and a small field party of four deployed to Devon Island with support from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the US National Research Council (NRC), and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) (Lee et al. 1998). Haughton and its surrounding terrains proved to offer a wide range of investigative possibilities for analog studies (e.g., Lee 2000;Lee et al. 2001Lee et al. , 2002Lee et al. , 2003Lee et al. , 2004Lee et al. , 2005Glass et al. 2002Glass et al. , 2005, with the prospect of many seasons of field work needed ahead to complete even initial surveys, and so the Haughton-Mars Project was established as a longer term effort. Now in its tenth year of operation, the Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) is an international multidisciplinary planetary analog field research project centered on the scientific study of the Haughton impact structure and surrounding terrains, with both a science program (seeking to advance our scientific understanding of the site in the broad context of planetary science and astrobiology) and an exploration program (seeking to use the site and the fact that actual scientific field investigations are taking place there [not simulations thereof] as an opportunity to drive and mature technologies and strategies for future planetary exploration with both robotic systems and humans). Being set in a polar desert, i.e., an environment which, by terrestrial standards, is extremely cold, dry, rocky, dusty, UV-irradiated, and largely unvegetated, the site presents real operational challenges to field exploration that are analogous in fundamental ways (although much more forgiving, of course) to those expected in planetary surface exploration.At present, each summer the HMP hosts tens of researchers (scientists and engineers), graduate and undergraduate students, and support staff at its base campthe Haughton-Mars Projec...

Subglacial drainage patterns of Devon Island, Canada: detailed comparison of rivers and subglacial meltwater channels

“…1). This is a well-preserved 23 km diameter (Osinski and Spray, 2005) 23 Myr old (Young et al, 2013) meteorite impact structure, which is a well-established Mars analogue terrain, and has been the focus of numerous planetary analogue studies including crater morphology and erosion, periglacial landscape evolution on Earth and Mars, and evolution of ancient lake beds, among other activities (Lee and Osinski, 2005). The location provides access to both exposed subglacial channels and river networks, allowing for systematic comparisons of their geometry and longitudinal profiles.…”

Geological overview and cratering model for the Haughton impact structure, Devon Island, Canadian High Arctic

“…The following papers and fold-out map insert in this issue are the result of work carried out during the course of eight field seasons (1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004) under the auspices of the Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) (see Lee and Osinski [2005] for an overview of the HMP). This paper summarizes the current state of our knowledge of the geology of the Haughton impact structure based on articles in this issue, together with other recent results published elsewhere, in addition to previous studies carried out prior to the HMP.…”

Intra-crater sedimentary deposits at the Haughton impact structure, Devon Island, Canadian High Arctic

“…The Haughton impact structure, which is approximately 39 Ma old, and the surrounding terrain on Devon Island in the Canadian High Arctic present a wide variety of geological traits that offer various analogues for Mars (e.g., Lee 1997;Lee et al 1998;Zent et al 1998;Lee et al 1999;Lee and Osinski 2005). Of particular interest at Haughton is the existence of well-preserved sedimentary deposits inside the crater, the Miocene-age Haughton Formation (Hickey et al 1988), that provide a unique record of post-impact lacustrine activity.…”