Publications
Filter Total Items: 915
The impact environment of the Hadean Earth
Impact bombardment in the first billion years of solar system history determined in large part the initial physical and chemical states of the inner planets and their potential to host biospheres. The range of physical states and thermal consequences of the impact epoch, however, are not well quantified. Here, we assess these effects on the young Earth's crust as well as the likelihood that a reco
Authors
Oleg Abramov, David A. Kring Kring, Stephen J. Mojzsis
Spatial distribution of damage around faults in the Joe Lott Tuff Member of the Mount Belknap Volcanics, Utah: A mechanical analog for faulting in pyroclastic deposits on Mars
Volcanic ash is thought to comprise a large fraction of the Martian equatorial layered deposits and much new insight into the process of faulting and related fluid flow in these deposits can be gained through the study of analogous terrestrial tuffs. This study identifies a set of fault-related processes that are pertinent to understanding the evolution of fault systems in fine-grained, poorly ind
Authors
Chris H. Okubo
Use of ASTER and MODIS thermal infrared data to quantify heat flow and hydrothermal change at Yellowstone National Park
The overarching aim of this study was to use satellite thermal infrared (TIR) remote sensing to monitor geothermal activity within the Yellowstone geothermal area to meet the missions of both the U.S. Geological Survey and the Yellowstone National Park Geology Program. Specific goals were to: 1) address the challenges of monitoring the surface thermal characteristics of the > 10,000 spatially and
Authors
R. Greg Vaughan, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Jacob B. Lowenstern, Cheryl Jaworowski, Henry Heasler
Progress on archiving, delivering, and working with planetary data
Planetary Data: A Workshop for Users and Software Developers 2012; Flagstaff, Ariz., 25–29 June 2012 The recent boom in the volume of data returned by planetary science missions continues to delight and confound users. Recently the NASA Planetary Data System (PDS) has seen an approximately 50‐fold increase in the amount of archived data and now serves nearly half a petabyte. Within 5 years, this v
Authors
Lisa R. Gaddis, Trent M. Hare, Ross Beyer
Mapping temperature and radiant geothermal heat flux anomalies in the Yellowstone geothermal system using ASTER thermal infrared data
The purpose of this work was to use satellite-based thermal infrared (TIR) remote sensing data to measure, map, and monitor geothermal activity within the Yellowstone geothermal area to help meet the missions of both the U.S. Geological Survey Yellowstone Volcano Observatory and the Yellowstone National Park Geology Program. Specifically, the goals were to: 1) address the challenges of remotely ch
Authors
R. Greg Vaughan, Jacob B. Lowenstern, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Cheryl Jaworowski, Henry Heasler
Candidate cave entrances on Mars
This paper presents newly discovered candidate cave entrances into Martian near-surface lava tubes, volcano-tectonic fracture systems, and pit craters and describes their characteristics and exploration possibilities. These candidates are all collapse features that occur either intermittently along laterally continuous trench-like depressions or in the floors of sheer-walled atypical pit craters.
Authors
Glen E. Cushing
An Automated Cropland Classification Algorithm (ACCA) for Tajikistan by combining Landsat, MODIS, and secondary data
The overarching goal of this research was to develop and demonstrate an automated Cropland Classification Algorithm (ACCA) that will rapidly, routinely, and accurately classify agricultural cropland extent, areas, and characteristics (e.g., irrigated vs. rainfed) over large areas such as a country or a region through combination of multi-sensor remote sensing and secondary data. In this research,
Authors
Prasad S. Thenkabail, Zhuoting Wu
The ChemCam Instrument Suite on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Rover: Science objectives and mast unit description
ChemCam is a remote sensing instrument suite on board the "Curiosity" rover (NASA) that uses Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) to provide the elemental composition of soils and rocks at the surface of Mars from a distance of 1.3 to 7 m, and a telescopic imager to return high resolution context and micro-images at distances greater than 1.16 m. We describe five analytical capabilities: ro
Authors
S. Maurice, R. C. Wiens, M. Saccoccio, B. Barraclough, O. Gasnault, O. Forni, N. Mangold, D. Baratoux, S. Bender, G. Berger, J. Bernardin, M. Berthé, N. Bridges, D. Blaney, M. Bouyé, P. Caïs, B. Clark, S. Clegg, A. Cousin, D. Cremers, A. Cros, L. DeFlores, C. Derycke, B. Dingler, G. Dromart, B. Dubois, M. Dupieux, E. Durand, L. d'Uston, C. Fabre, B. Faure, A. Gaboriaud, T. Gharsa, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, E. Kan, L. Kirkland, D. Kouach, J.-L. Lacour, Y. Langevin, J. Lasue, S. Le Mouélic, M. Lescure, E. Lewin, D. Limonadi, G. Manhès, P. Mauchien, C. McKay, P.-Y. Meslin, Y. Michel, E. Miller, Horton E. Newsom, G. Orttner, A. Paillet, L. Parès, Y. Parot, R. Pérez, P. Pinet, F. Poitrasson, B. Quertier, B. Sallé, Christophe Sotin, V. Sautter, H. Séran, J.J. Simmonds, J.-B. Sirven, R. Stiglich, N. Striebig, J.-J. Thocaven, M.J. Toplis, D. Vaniman
Reading the climate record of the martian polar layered deposits
The martian polar regions have layered deposits of ice and dust. The stratigraphy of these deposits is exposed within scarps and trough walls and is thought to have formed due to climate variations in the past. Insolation has varied significantly over time and caused dramatic changes in climate, but it has remained unclear whether insolation variations could be linked to the stratigraphic record.
Authors
C.S. Hvidberg, K.E. Fishbaugh, M. Winstrup, A. Svensson, S. Byrne, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff
Dawn at Vesta: testing the protoplanetary paradigm
The Dawn spacecraft targeted 4 Vesta, believed to be a remnant intact protoplanet from the earliest epoch of solar system formation, based on analyses of howardite-eucrite-diogenite (HED) meteorites that indicate a differentiated parent body. Dawn observations reveal a giant basin at Vesta's south pole, whose excavation was sufficient to produce Vesta-family asteroids (Vestoids) and HED meteorites
Authors
C.T. Russell, C.A. Raymond, A. Coradini, H.Y. McSween, M.T. Zuber, A. Nathues, Maria-Cristina DeSanctis, R. Jaumann, A.S. Konopliv, F. Preusker, S.W. Asmar, R.S. Park, R. Gaskell, H.U. Keller, S. Mottola, T. Roatsch, J.E.C. Scully, D.E. Smith, P. Tricarico, M.J. Toplis, U.R. Christensen, W. C. Feldman, D. J. Lawrence, T.J. McCoy, T.H. Prettyman, R.C. Reedy, M.E. Sykes, T.N. Titus
Seasonal activity and morphological changes in martian gullies
Recent studies of martian dune and non-dune gullies have suggested a seasonal control on present-day gully activity. The timing of current gully activity, especially activity involving the formation or modification of channels (which commonly have been taken as evidence of fluvial processes), has important implications regarding likely gully formation processes and necessary environmental conditio
Authors
Colin M. Dundas, Serina Diniega, Candice J. Hansen, Shane Byrne, Alfred S. McEwen
Assessment of environments for Mars Science Laboratory entry, descent, and surface operations
The Mars Science Laboratory mission aims to land a car-sized rover on Mars' surface and operate it for at least one Mars year in order to assess whether its field area was ever capable of supporting microbial life. Here we describe the approach used to identify, characterize, and assess environmental risks to the landing and rover surface operations. Novel entry, descent, and landing approaches wi
Authors
Ashwin R. Vasavada, Allen Chen, Jeffrey R. Barnes, P. Daniel Burkhart, Bruce A. Cantor, Alicia M. Dwyer-Cianciolo, Robini L. Fergason, David P. Hinson, Hilary L. Justh, David M. Kass, Stephen R. Lewis, Michael A. Mischna, James R. Murphy, Scot C.R. Rafkin, Daniel Tyler, Paul G. Withers