Morphometric constraints on the formation of new terrestrial analogs for planetary pits

The origin of geological depressions abounding on Mars and other planetary bodies remains poorly understood, partially due to the limited variability in settings existing terrestrial analogs. Here, we present a new analog that is located at northwestern margin Levantine volcanic field Harrat Ash−Shaam along Dead Sea Transform. site consists tens (locally named “juba”) morphologically resemble Martian bowl-shaped pits occur within Pleistocene basaltic plateau overlies Meso-Cenozoic carbonates. To constrain plausible formation mechanisms for juba depressions, carried out detailed mapping morphometric analyses using 0.25 m/pixel digital terrain model (DTM) derived from airborne light detection ranging (LiDAR) survey covering 34 km2 study area, centimeter-scale, ground-based LiDAR scans selected depressions. We show variable magnitudes slope asymmetry between north- south-facing walls with different degrees sediment infilling, provide effective proxies relative geomorphic maturity these landforms, turn indicate asynchronous after emplacement basalts area. Our findings preclude by phreatomagmatic explosions instead point toward collapse into missing subsurface volume. In broader context, propose developed herein distinguish can be extended better similar pit features bodies.