Observations – mass and
moment of inertia. How are they derived?
Compositional
constraints – SNC’s, in situ measurements, remote sensing, cosmochemical
arguments
A
liquid core? How would we verify this observation?
What
is the composition of the crust?
Geophysical Constraints
Gravity
– how is it acquired, what are its limitations, what are the observations?
Crustal
thickness – gravity constraints, lower crustal flow arguments, geochemical
constraints
Flexure
and Admittance – can constrain crustal thickness, density and rigidity; gives
heat flux as a function of time. Surface vs. subsurface loading, mascons. Is
Tharsis convective?
Magnetic
data – how are they acquired, what are the limitations, can the SNC’s tell us
anything? Can we say anything useful about the observations? Plate tectonics?
Thermal Evolution
Accretion
and differentiation – geochemical constraints on Mars’ earliest history
What
powered the dynamo? Plate tectonics, a hot core or something else?
Hemispheric
dichotomy – cause or effect?
Crustal
formation, Tharsis and volcanism – the generation of melt through geological
time on Mars (and what about the climatic effects?)