This was accomplished by analyzing satellite remote sensing data of analogue gully sites on Svalbard by using similar methodologies to those used in previous studies of Martian gullies. The results was compared with measurements made in situ at Svalbard in order to validate the conclusions drawn from the satellite data. In addition, an extensive set of measurements that cannot be conducted from orbit, was also made on site at Svalbard. The knowledge gained from this comparison was used to make a qualitatively evaluation of the conclusions drawn from previous studies of gully formation on Mars, where only remote sensing data is available. This project is also part of the IPY (International Polar Year) project #432, where the polar regions of Earth was investigated in order to facilitate the interpretation of the data from the Phoenix Lander on Mars.

Principal investigator

Ella Carlsson
Solar system physics and space technology, Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna