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Creating Elevation Profiles 

Create elevation profiles to see how height changes across the surface.

Note: Profiles only work when a numeric elevation layer (such as MOLA) is active in the Layers panel.

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  1. Open JMARS

  2. Click on an area of interest and Zoom in. 

  3. Go to the tool bar. Chick the Profile icon.        

  4. Slowly click and drag to draw a profile line. Single-click to change direction while drawing, and double-click to end the line. Click the arrow icon in the Tools menu to stop drawing. Note: To return to the arrow cursor, click another layer in the Layers panel, then reselect your original layer.

  5. Click a line, or drag across multiple lines to select. Line(s) become highlighted in bright yellow. Note: A mouse icon indicates right-click options.

  6. To see your profile(s), right click on your highlighted profile line and choose “Add profile to existing chart”. This opens a "View and Configure Chart". Note: The square marks where the profile line begins on the chart.

  7. Click “CHART” to view your profiles. Note: to return to arrow curser, click in main viewing window.

  8. To delete profiles, right-click selected line(s) and choose Remove.

  9. Click “CONFIGURATION” to adjust profile options. Note:  Recommended numeric source: HRSC MOLA Blended DEM 200mv2​​​​​

profile tool icon

A place to begin:

What do you notice?

  • Where does elevation change the most along your profile?

  • Are the changes smooth, stepped, or abrupt?

  • Do any patterns repeat (peaks, valleys, slopes)?

  • What might be causing these patterns in the landscape?

Radial/Crater Profile lines 

This tool shows how elevation changes outward from a central point or across the diameter. It is useful for circular features such as craters, volcanoes, or landing areas, for crater counting or structure of craters. Note: Only numeric maps generate these profiles.

  1. Open JMARS

  2. Zoom in to a crater or area of interest (AOI).

  3. Click the three dots next to the "Layers" label and click “Crater Counting”.
    A new layer is added to the Layers panel. 

  4. Move your cursor and circle to the center of your crater. Zoom in/out until circle fits on your screen.
    (Hold Shift for finer control.) Repeat to select other craters. Right-click. Under     "Crater Mode", click “Select Mode.” Click your circle or click and drag across selected craters. Next, right-click. under "Mode", click “Select Mode.”

  5.  Double click on the "Crater Counting" layer in the layer manager. In the  "Crater Counting Options" window, click the row showing your circle data . (turns gray). At the bottom of the window, click "Open Profile Viewer". The chart shows elevation profiles from the center out (RADIALS). To chart from edge to edge (DIAMETERS) click the "line type" then click "DIAMETERS". Other custom options are available including data sheets about your craters.

  6. To add a new circle: right click, click choose crater mode, add mode. Repeat steps 4-5 ​​​​​​​

​   Note: Recommended higher resolution Numeric Source: "HRSC MOLA Blended DEM 200mv2". ​​​

A place to begin:

What patterns do you see?

  • Do the profiles look the same all the way around, or different?

  • Where are the steepest and flattest sections?

  • Are there any asymmetries or irregularities?

  • What might these differences suggest about how the crater formed or was modified?

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