MARS MARS INFORMATICS The International Journal of Mars Science and Exploration Open Access Journals Science Accumulation and erosion of south polar layered

Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Background: Promethei Lingula, a part of Mars ’ south polar plateau, Planum Australe, is made up of south polar layered deposits (SPLD) and includes three broad, deep canyons trending perpendicular to the plateau margin and several spiral troughs concentric to the plateau. Two of the canyons, Promethei and Ultimum Chasmata, expose substrate beneath SPLD, and the other canyon displays a variety of erosional landforms within SPLD, including curvilinear, longitudinal grooves (Australe Sulci). Method: Recent Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey data sets permit us to map, characterize, and evaluate the region’s geologic materials, features, mechanisms, and history. Results: Our results indicate that aeolian-based SPLD accumulation and erosion were topographically controlled by the rugged Promethei basin rim and other underlying features, leading to dipping beds that define seedling canyons. Formation of the two chasmata included an earlier erosional stage that resulted in SPLD unconformities in chasmata walls. A later erosional episod