Meandering rivers on the completely barren plain of the Qaidam Basin as Mars analogs

Abstract

The meandering river is a typical landform commonly found in the Qaidam Basin. With the continuous expansion of human exploration, similar terrain has been identified on other celestial bodies such as Mars, and some extraterrestrial bodies on Titan. Particularly, the Aeolis-Zephyria Planum (AZP) region in the west of Mars has exhibited comparable features. Previous researchers have examined the distribution of curved ridges in this area using high-resolution remote sensing images and discussed their possible formation mechanisms. There is a dearth of studies focusing on the evolution process of these ridges. We need more research and evidence to further identify the formation process of these particular landforms. Absolutely, conducting a comparative study with Earth can contribute to our understanding of this issue, while an analogy study can provide insights into the formation environment of curved ridges. The Qaidam Basin offers a unique natural research base due to the presence of Mars-like landforms. By utilizing multi-source remote sensing data, this study thoroughly investigates the curved channels and ridges in the Qaidam Basin as well as the AZP area on the Martian surface. Consequently, it provides valuable insight into the paleoclimate environment in the AZP region of Mars.