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Surface - Atmosphere interaction

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By Astrogeology Science Center October 5, 2022

The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on the interaction between planetary surfaces and the overlying atmospheres. In particular, the transfer of momentum (from wind), vapor (evaporation/sublimation), liquid (rainfall, percolation, infiltration) and solids (snow) occurs between surfaces and atmospheres. 

Dunes and Ripples

One topic in particular that we focus on is the transport of sand and dust by wind. Flagstaff, AZ has numerous dunefields nearby, which  we study via the Astrogeology Science Center Terrestrial Analogs Program. We are also interested in subaqueous dunes and ripples, as they may be analogs to bedforms under thicker atmospheres, such as those on Titan and Venus.

Terrestrial Analogs

No Result Found

TES observations of the martian surface and atmosphere TES observations of the martian surface and atmosphere

The TES instrument is a Fourier transform Michelson interferometer operating with 10 or 5 cm-1 sampling int he thermal infared spectral region from 1700 to 200 cm-1 (~6 to 50 μm) where virtually all minerals have characteristic fundamental vibrational absorption bands (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). The TES data used in this paper are among the 6x107 spectra collected during the early mapping...
Authors
P. R. Christensen, H. H. Kieffer, J.C. Pearl, B. Conrath, M. C. Malin, R.C. Clark, R.V. Morris, J.L. Banfield, M. D. Lane, M. D. Smith, V.E. Hamilton, R.O. Kuzmin

Aeolian features and processes at the Mars Pathfinder landing site Aeolian features and processes at the Mars Pathfinder landing site

The Mars Pathfinder landing site contains abundant features attributed to aeolian, or wind, processes. These include wind tails, drift deposits, duneforms of various types, ripplelike features, and ventifacts (the first clearly seen on Mars). Many of these features are consistant with formation involving sand-size particles. Although some features, such as dunes, could develop from...
Authors
Ronald Greeley, Michael Kraft, Robert Sullivan, Gregory Wilson, Nathan Bridges, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Ruslan O. Kuzmin, Michael Malin, Wes Ward
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

Triton's surface-atmosphere energy balance Triton's surface-atmosphere energy balance

We explore the energetics of Triton's surface-atmosphere system using a model that includes the turbulent transfer of sensible heat as well as insolation, reradiation, and latent heat transport. The model relies on a 1° by 1° resolution hemispheric bolometric albedo map of Triton for determining the atmospheric temperature, the N2 frost emissivity, and the temperatures of unfrosted...
Authors
J.A. Stansberry, R.V. Yelle, J. I. Lunine, A. S. McEwen

The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on the interaction between planetary surfaces and the overlying atmospheres. In particular, the transfer of momentum (from wind), vapor (evaporation/sublimation), liquid (rainfall, percolation, infiltration) and solids (snow) occurs between surfaces and atmospheres. 

Dunes and Ripples

One topic in particular that we focus on is the transport of sand and dust by wind. Flagstaff, AZ has numerous dunefields nearby, which  we study via the Astrogeology Science Center Terrestrial Analogs Program. We are also interested in subaqueous dunes and ripples, as they may be analogs to bedforms under thicker atmospheres, such as those on Titan and Venus.

Terrestrial Analogs

No Result Found

TES observations of the martian surface and atmosphere TES observations of the martian surface and atmosphere

The TES instrument is a Fourier transform Michelson interferometer operating with 10 or 5 cm-1 sampling int he thermal infared spectral region from 1700 to 200 cm-1 (~6 to 50 μm) where virtually all minerals have characteristic fundamental vibrational absorption bands (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). The TES data used in this paper are among the 6x107 spectra collected during the early mapping...
Authors
P. R. Christensen, H. H. Kieffer, J.C. Pearl, B. Conrath, M. C. Malin, R.C. Clark, R.V. Morris, J.L. Banfield, M. D. Lane, M. D. Smith, V.E. Hamilton, R.O. Kuzmin

Aeolian features and processes at the Mars Pathfinder landing site Aeolian features and processes at the Mars Pathfinder landing site

The Mars Pathfinder landing site contains abundant features attributed to aeolian, or wind, processes. These include wind tails, drift deposits, duneforms of various types, ripplelike features, and ventifacts (the first clearly seen on Mars). Many of these features are consistant with formation involving sand-size particles. Although some features, such as dunes, could develop from...
Authors
Ronald Greeley, Michael Kraft, Robert Sullivan, Gregory Wilson, Nathan Bridges, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Ruslan O. Kuzmin, Michael Malin, Wes Ward
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

Triton's surface-atmosphere energy balance Triton's surface-atmosphere energy balance

We explore the energetics of Triton's surface-atmosphere system using a model that includes the turbulent transfer of sensible heat as well as insolation, reradiation, and latent heat transport. The model relies on a 1° by 1° resolution hemispheric bolometric albedo map of Triton for determining the atmospheric temperature, the N2 frost emissivity, and the temperatures of unfrosted...
Authors
J.A. Stansberry, R.V. Yelle, J. I. Lunine, A. S. McEwen
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