We set out on EVA today to ground truth the first of the aerial images taken by the Red Flyer ARV. Our two objectives were to look in detail at the fluvial features and the regolith types observed in these images.

(Click Image for Detail)

From analysis of the aerial image we assumed that there were three separate regolith types at this site. When we arrived in the field we found this to not actually be the case. Instead we found five different regoliths. We assume that this variation results from the level of resolution of the ARV image. All five of the regolith materials were sampled and further analysis will be conducted in the lab.

We next examined the fluvial features in detail. Again we found that there was much more to be observed on the ground than what was defined in the aerial image. There were more river branches than what was noticeable in the ARV image and the many smaller streams that we found in the field were not observable at all in the aerial photograph. The geometry was significantly different from what we predicted it to be from studying the Red Flyer image as well. The channels were more incised and unconfined than we had predicted. The general flow regime was to the south. Three samples were taken from within the fluvial channels, all consisting of fine material. Two gravels were also noted, but were not sampled. One of these was very cemented and compacted. One giant stream channel did not appear at all in the ARV image. We have again attributed this to a resolution problem.

We plan to experiment tonight and tomorrow with enhancing the contrast of the ARV image in Photoshop in hopes of being able to better define both regolith type and extent and location and characteristics of fluvial channels. We will compare these results with the data obtained today to better evaluate the aerial image's effectiveness. We will be re-visiting this site on Thursday morning to ground truth stratigraphy and hopefully by then we will be able to compare what we observe on the ground to both our original and contrast-enhanced images.