Publications
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The geologic history of Margaritifer basin, Mars
In this study, we investigate the fluvial, sedimentary, and volcanic history of Margaritifer basin and the Uzboi-Ladon-Morava (ULM) outflow channel system. This network of valleys and basins spans more than 8000 km in length, linking the fluvially dissected southern highlands and Argyre Basin with the northern lowlands via Ares Vallis. Compositionally, thermophysically, and morphologically distinc
Authors
M. R. Salvatore, M. D. Kraft, Christopher Edwards, P. R. Christensen
Reflectance spectroscopy (0.35–8 μm) of ammonium-bearing minerals and qualitative comparison to Ceres-like asteroids
Ammonium-bearing minerals have been suggested to be present on Mars, Ceres, and various asteroids and comets. We undertook a systematic study of the spectral reflectance properties of ammonium-bearing minerals and compounds that have possible planetary relevance (i.e., ammonium carbonates, chlorides, nitrates, oxalates, phosphates, silicates, and sulfates). Various synthetic and natural NH4+-beari
Authors
Breanne L. Berg, Edward A. Cloutis, P. Beck, P. Vernazza, Janice L Bishop, Driss Takir, V. Reddy, D. Applin, Paul Mann
Observing outer planet satellites (except Titan) with the James Webb Space Telescope: Science justification and observational requirements
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will allow observations with a unique combination of spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution for the study of outer planet satellites within our Solar System. We highlight the infrared spectroscopy of icy moons and temporal changes on geologically active satellites as two particularly valuable avenues of scientific inquiry. While some care must be taken to
Authors
Laszlo P. Kestay, Will Grundy, John Stansberry, Anand Sivaramakrishnan, Deepashri Thatte, Murthy Gudipati, Constantine Tsang, Alexandra Greenbaum, Chima McGruder
Silicic lunar volcanism: Testing the crustal melting model
Lunar silicic rocks were first identified by granitic fragments found in samples brought to Earth by the Apollo missions, followed by the discovery of silicic domes on the lunar surface through remote sensing. Although these silicic lithologies are thought to make up a small portion of the lunar crust, their presence indicates that lunar crustal evolution is more complex than originally thought. M
Authors
Amber Gullikson, Justin Hagerty, Mary R. Reid, Jennifer F. Rapp, David S. Draper
Limited role for thermal erosion by turbulent lava in proximal Athabasca Valles, Mars
The Athabasca Valles flood lava is among the most recent (<50 Ma) and best preserved effusive lava flows on Mars and was probably emplaced turbulently. The Williams et al. (2005) model of thermal erosion by lava has been applied to what we term “proximal Athabasca,” the 75 km long upstream portion of Athabasca Valles. For emplacement volumes of 5000 and 7500 km3and average flow thicknesses of 20 a
Authors
Vincenzo Cataldo, David A. Williams, Colin M. Dundas, Laszlo P. Kestay
Modeling the development of martian sublimation thermokarst landforms
Sublimation-thermokarst landforms result from collapse of the surface when ice is lost from the subsurface. On Mars, scalloped landforms with scales of decameters to kilometers are observed in the mid-latitudes and considered likely thermokarst features. We describe a landscape evolution model that couples diffusive mass movement and subsurface ice loss due to sublimation. Over periods of tens of
Authors
Colin M. Dundas, Shane Byrne, Alfred S. McEwen
Deposition, exhumation, and paleoclimate of an ancient lake deposit, Gale crater, Mars
The landforms of northern Gale crater on Mars expose thick sequences of sedimentary rocks. Based on images obtained by the Curiosity rover, we interpret these outcrops as evidence for past fluvial, deltaic, and lacustrine environments. Degradation of the crater wall and rim probably supplied these sediments, which advanced inward from the wall, infilling both the crater and an internal lake basin
Authors
J.P. Grotzinger, S. Gupta, M. C. Malin, D. M. Rubin, J. Schieber, K. Siebach, D.Y. Sumner, K.M. Stack, A.R. Vasavada, R.E. Arvidson, F. Calef, Lauren A. Edgar, W. F. Fischer, J.A. Grant, J.L. Griffes, L.C. Kah, M.P. Lamb, K.W. Lewis, N. Mangold, M.E. Minitti, M.C. Palucis, M. Rice, R.M.E. Williams, R.A. Yingst, D. Blake, D. Blaney, P. Conrad, J.A. Crisp, W. E. Dietrich, G. Dromart, K.S. Edgett, R.C. Ewing, R. Gellert, J.A. Hurowitz, G. Kocurek, P.G. Mahaffy, M.J. McBride, S. M. McLennan, M.A. Mischna, D. Ming, R.E. Milliken, H. Newsom, D. Oehler, T. J. Parker, D. Vaniman, R. C. Wiens, S. A. Wilson
Hydrothermal alteration and diagenesis of terrestrial lacustrine pillow basalts: Coordination of hyperspectral imaging with laboratory measurements
We investigate an outcrop of ∼187 Ma lacustrine pillow basalts of the Talcott Formation exposed in Meriden, Connecticut, USA, focusing on coordinated analyses of one pillow lava to characterize the aqueous history of these basalts in the Hartford Basin. This work uses a suite of multidisciplinary measurements, including hyperspectral imaging, other spectroscopic techniques, and chemical and minera
Authors
Rebecca N Greenberger, John F Mustard, Edward A. Cloutis, Paul Mann, Janette H. Wilson, Roberta L Flemming, Kevin Robertson, Mark R Salvatore, Christopher Edwards
Carbon sequestration on Mars
No abstract available.
Authors
Christopher S. Edwards, Bethany L. Ehlmann
The importance of dunes on a variety of planetary surfaces
Scientists observe aeolian bed forms, or dune-like structures, throughout the solar system in a range of locations, from bodies with only transient atmospheres, such as comets, to places with thick atmospheres, such as Venus and the Earth’s ocean floor. Determining the source of sand and the different dune formations that result are thus important to understanding solar system and planetary evolut
Authors
Timothy N. Titus, James R. Zimbelman, Jani Radebaugh
Examining spectral variations in localized lunar dark mantle deposits
The localized lunar dark mantle deposits (DMDs) in Alphonsus, J. Herschel, and Oppenheimer craters were analyzed using visible-near-infrared spectroscopy data from the Moon Mineralogy Mapper. Spectra of these localized DMDs were analyzed for compositional and mineralogical variations within the deposits and were compared with nearby mare basalt units. Spectra of the three localized DMDs exhibited
Authors
Erica Jawin, Sebastien Besse, Lisa R. Gaddis, Jessica Sunshine, James W. Head, Sara Mazrouei
Constraining the heat flux between Enceladus’ tiger stripes: numerical modeling of funiscular plains formation
The Cassini spacecraft’s Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) has observed at least 5 GW of thermal emission at Enceladus’ south pole. The vast majority of this emission is localized on the four long, parallel, evenly-spaced fractures dubbed tiger stripes. However, the thermal emission from regions between the tiger stripes has not been determined. These spatially localized regions have a unique
Authors
Michael T. Bland, William B. McKinnon, Paul M. Schenk