Dr. Mark A. Bishop

Research Report 2007

Bishop focuses on the spatial statistical analysis of landform patterns (planetary geography) using a geographical information system and introduces a wide ranging assortment of statistical techniques to the study of planetary surfaces and the processes that form both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial landscapes. This work is being developed to produce ‘landscape indices’ of landform types across a range of planetary bodies.

1. Intra-crater dune field self-organization on Mars

The application of spatial statistical methods within a GIS environment has shown its ability at the analysis of landform patterns, at quantifying the maturity of dune fields, and as a tool which quantifies landscape self-organization (Bishop 2007a). Dune fields of the Martian north polar ergs have demonstrated patterns of statistical dispersion (regularity) that are related to morphology and neighbor distances between dunes (Figure 1). A post-graduate student (Mr Andrew Wheeler) is studying in this field at the University of South Australia.

Figure 1. Spatial statistics of dune field self-organization for a sample of nine MOC images in north polar latitudes. All fields show some aspect of pattern dispersion (regularity) or dune field self-organization.

2. Geographical statistical analysis of the Tartarus Colles, Mars

Bishop has shown that spatial statistical analysis of landforms (planetary geography) can be a robust tool for understanding terrestrial volcano patterns and landscape evolution (Bishop 2007b). The application of geographical analysis to cone fields of ambivalent origin is in progress for the Tartarus Colles, Mars. Comparative studies for testing possible volcanic analogs from southern and northern Australia, and the Pinacate volcanic field in Mexico are concurrently in progress.

Figure 2. Cone fields of MOC image S04-01005 (1.78 m/pixel) in the Tartarus Colles, Mars. The patterns of distribution are random, although these may alter depending on the degree of degradation from post-emplacement processes. Area #4 shows a partial annulus of ‘smooth’ terrain and area #5 identifies the contiguous nature of the cones; each being common features for other cone fields of the Colles.

Papers

Bishop, M.A. (2007a) Point pattern analysis of North Polar crescentic dunes, Mars: A geography of dune self-organization. Icarus 191, 151-157.

Bishop, M.A. (2007b) Point pattern analysis of eruption points for the Mount Gambier volcanic sub-province: A quantitative geographical approach to the understanding of volcano distribution. Area 32 (2), 230-241.

Abstracts

Wheeler A.J., Bishop, M.A. (2007) Pilot study of higher order neighbor statistics for crescentic dunes of the Martian north polar region. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XXXVII, Abstract 1414, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston (CD-ROM).