Michael Bland, Ph.D.
Mike Bland is a research space scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Center. His interests primarily lie in combining numerical models with planetary datasets to understand the thermal and tectonic evolution of ice-rich bodies.
Past and current research areas include:
- The mechanics of rifting in ice lithospheres (e.g., Ganymede and Enceladus)
- The formation of contractional features on icy bodies (e.g., Europa, Enceladus, Titan)
- Crater modification due to viscous relaxation (Enceladus and Ceres)
- Mountain formation on Io
- Differentiation of large icy satellites (Ganymede and Titan)
- Production of Ganymede's magnetic field
Professional Experience
Dawn at Ceres Guest Investigator
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Planetary Science, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ (2008)
BA Physics/Geology, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter MN (2002)
Honors and Awards
First Decade Award, Gustavus Adolphus College (2012)
NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (2007)
Gerard P. Kuiper Award, University of Arizona (2007)
Science and Products
Numerical simulations of lithospheric shortening on the ice-covered moons Europa and Enceladus Numerical simulations of lithospheric shortening on the ice-covered moons Europa and Enceladus
Jupiter’s moon Europa and Saturn’s moon Enceladus have many commonalities; however, the surfaces of the two moons bear little resemblance to each other. Significantly, although both moons show ample evidence of lithospheric extension (e.g., rifting), only Enceladus has obvious features formed by lithospheric shortening. We hypothesize that this difference is primarily caused by the...
Improved camera pointing and spacecraft ephemeris data for Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) images of the lunar poles. Improved camera pointing and spacecraft ephemeris data for Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) images of the lunar poles.
NASA’s lunar exploration objectives, which include both robotic and human missions to the surface, require data products with high spatial resolution and accuracy. Using rigorous photogrammetric methods, we have co-aligned thousands of high-resolution images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) [Robbinson et al. 2010] of the lunar north and south...
Mars Sample Return HiRISE Mosaics for Terrain Relative Navigation Mars Sample Return HiRISE Mosaics for Terrain Relative Navigation
In order to support the landing and operations of NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) previously generated Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and orthoimage mosaics of the floor of Jezero crater. Over four years of operations, Perseverance has collected numerous samples while climbing the western rim of Jezero and has travelled beyond the extent of the...
Photogrammetrically Controlled, Equirectangular Galileo Image Mosaics of Europa Photogrammetrically Controlled, Equirectangular Galileo Image Mosaics of Europa
The Solid State Imager (SSI) on NASA's Galileo spacecraft acquired more than 500 images of Jupiter's moon, Europa, providing the only moderate- to high-resolution images of the moon's surface. Images were acquired as observation sequences during each orbit that targeted the moon. Each of these observation sequences consists of between 1 and 19 images acquired close in time, that...
Filter Total Items: 37
No magmatic driving force for Europan sea-floor volcanism No magmatic driving force for Europan sea-floor volcanism
The internal ocean of Jupiter’s moon Europa is thought to be a prime candidate for hosting extraterrestrial life. Europa’s silicate interior may contribute to habitability via the generation of reactants through hydrothermal activity, serpentinization, or other geological processes occurring on or just below Europa’s seafloor. However, silicate melting is thought to occur at >100 km...
Authors
A.P. Green, Catherine Elder, Michael Thomas Bland, Paul Tackley, Paul K. Byrne
The Europa Imaging System (EIS) investigation The Europa Imaging System (EIS) investigation
The Europa Imaging System (EIS) consists of a Narrow-Angle Camera (NAC) and a Wide-Angle Camera (WAC) that are designed to work together to address high-priority science objectives regarding Europa’s geology, composition, and the nature of its ice shell. EIS accommodates variable geometry and illumination during rapid, low-altitude flybys with both framing and pushbroom imaging...
Authors
E.P. Turtle, A.S. McEwen, G.W. Patterson, C. Ernst, C.M. Elder, K.A. Slack, S.E. Hawkins, J. McDermott, H. Meyer, R. DeMajistre, R. Espiritu, H. Seifert, J. Niewola, Michael Bland, M.K. Becker, J. Centurelli, G.C. Collins, P. Corlies, H. Darlington, I. Daubar, C. Derr, C. Detelich, E. Donald, W. Edens, L. Fletcher, C. Gardner, F. Graham, C.J. Hansen, C. Haslebacher, A.G. Hayes, D. Humm, T.A. Hurford, Randolph Kirk, N. Kutsop, W.J. Lees, D. Lewis, S. London, A. Magner, M.A. Mills, A.C. Barr Mlinar, F. Morgan, F. Nimmo, A. Ocasio Milanes, S. Osterman, C.B. Phillips, A. Pommerol, L. Prockter, L.C. Quick, G. Robbins, J.M. Soderblom, B.A. Stewart, A. Stickle, S.S. Sutton, N. Thomas, I. Torres, O.J. Tucker, R.B. Van Auken, K.A. Wilk
Geologic constraints on the formation and evolution of Saturn’s mid-sized moons Geologic constraints on the formation and evolution of Saturn’s mid-sized moons
Saturn’s mid-sized icy moons have complex relationships with Saturn’s interior, the rings, and with each other, which can be expressed in their shapes, interiors, and geology. Observations of their physical states can, thus, provide important constraints on the ages and formation mechanism(s) of the moons, which in turn informs our understanding of the formation and evolution of Saturn...
Authors
Alyssa Rhoden, Sierra Ferguson, William Bottke, Julie C. Castillo-Rogez, Emily Martin, Michael Bland, Michelle R. Kirchoff, Marco Zannoni, Nicolas Rambaux, Julien Salmon
The evolution of a young ocean within Mimas The evolution of a young ocean within Mimas
The fractured, young surfaces on confirmed ocean worlds such as Europa and Enceladus suggest that ocean-bearing moons with relatively thin overlying ice shells should be easy to identify. Hence, the discovery that Mimas’ rotation state is best explained by an internal ocean seems challenging to reconcile with its heavily cratered surface. Previous studies have shown that an internal...
Authors
A. Rhoden, M. Walker, M. Rudolph, Michael Bland, Michael Manga
Planned geological investigations of the Europa Clipper mission Planned geological investigations of the Europa Clipper mission
Geological investigations planned for the Europa Clipper mission will examine the formation, evolution, and expression of geomorphic structures found on the surface. Understanding geologic features, their formation, and any recent activity are key inputs in constraining Europa’s potential for habitability. In addition to providing information about the moon’s habitability, the geologic...
Authors
I. Daubar, A. Hayes, Gail Collins, K. Craft, J. Rathbun, J.R. Spencer, D. Wyrick, Michael Bland, A. Davies, C. Ernst, Samuel Howell, Erin Leonard, Alfred McEwen, J. Moore, C. Phillips, L. Prockter, L. Quick, J. Scully, J. Soderblom, S. Brooks, M. Cable, M. Cameron, K. Chan, C. Chivers, M. Choukroun, Corey Cochrane, S. Diniega, A. Dombard, Catherine Elder, Christopher Gerekos, Christopher Glein, T Greathouse, C. Grima, Murthy Gudipati, K. Hand, C. Hansen, Paul Hayne, M. Hedman, K. Hughson, X. Jia, J. Lawrence, H. Meyer, H. Miller, Gerald Patterson, D Persaud, S. Piqueux, K. Retherford, Kirk Scanlan, P. Schenk, B. Schmidt, D. Schroeder, Gregor Steinbrugge, A. Stern, Gabriel Tobie, Paul Withers, D. A. Young, B. Buratti, Haje Korth, D. Senske, Robert Pappalardo
Current status of the community sensor model standard for the generation of planetary digital terrain models Current status of the community sensor model standard for the generation of planetary digital terrain models
The creation of accurate elevation models (topography) from stereo images are critical for a large variety of geospatial activities, including the production of digital orthomosaics, change detection, landing site analysis, geologic mapping, rover traverse planning, and spectral analysis. The United Stated Geological Survey, Astrogeology Science Center, continues to transition the...
Authors
Trent Hare, Randolph Kirk, Michael Bland, Donna Galuszka, Jason Laura, David Mayer, Bonnie Redding, Benjamin Wheeler
The inevitability of large shallow craters on Callisto and Ganymede: Implications for crater depth-diameter trends The inevitability of large shallow craters on Callisto and Ganymede: Implications for crater depth-diameter trends
Complex craters with diameters (D) ≥ 40 km on Callisto and Ganymede are shallower than would be expected from simply extrapolating the depth-diameter trend from smaller (D ≤ 40 km) craters. This unusual depth-diameter (d-D) trend, and associated changes in crater morphology, have been hypothesized to result from rheological transitions, including the existence of an ocean, within the...
Authors
Michael Bland, Veronica Bray
Exploring the interior of Europa with the Europa Clipper Exploring the interior of Europa with the Europa Clipper
The Galileo mission to Jupiter revealed that Europa is an ocean world. The Galileo magnetometer experiment in particular provided strong evidence for a salty subsurface ocean beneath the ice shell, likely in contact with the rocky core. Within the ice shell and ocean, a number of tectonic and geodynamic processes may operate today or have operated at some point in the past, including...
Authors
James Roberts, William B. McKinnon, Catherine Elder, Gabriel Tobie, John Biersteker, Duncan Young, Ryan S. Park, Gregor Steinbrugge, Francis Nimmo, Samuel Howell, Julie C. Castillo-Rogez, Morgan Cable, Jacob Abrahams, Michael Bland, Chase Chivers, Corey Cochrane, Andrew Dombard, Carolyn Ernst, Antonio Genova, Christopher Gerekos, Christopher Glein, Camilla Harris, Hamish Hay, Paul Hayne, Matthew Hedman, Hauke Hussmann, Xianzhe Jia, Krishan Khurana, Walter Kiefer, Randolph Kirk, Margaret Kivelson, Justin Lawrence, Erin Leonard, Jonathan Lunine, Erwan Mazarico, Thomas McCord, Alfred McEwen, Carol Paty, Lynnae Quick, Carol Raymond, Kurt Retherford, Lorenz Roth, Abigail Rymer, Joachim Saur, Kirk Scanlan, Dustin Schroeder, David Senske, Wencheng Shao, Krista Soderlund, Elizabeth Spiers, Marshall Styczinski, Paolo Tortora, Steven Vance, Michaela Villarreal, Benjamin Weiss, Joseph Westlake, Paul Withers, Natalie Wolfenbarger, Bonnie Buratti, Haje Korth, Robert Pappalardo, Interior Group
Viscous relaxation of Oort and Edgeworth craters on Pluto: Possible indicators of an epoch of early high heat flow Viscous relaxation of Oort and Edgeworth craters on Pluto: Possible indicators of an epoch of early high heat flow
Impact craters, with their well-defined initial shapes, have proven useful as heat flow probes of a number of icy bodies, provided characteristics of viscous relaxation can be identified. For Pluto's numerous craters, such identifications are hampered/complicated by infilling and erosion by mobile volatile ices, but not in every case. Large craters offer relatively deep probes of...
Authors
W. McKinnon, Michael Bland, K. Singer, P. Schenk, S. Robbins
Constraints on the composition and thermal structure of Ariel’s icy crust as inferred from its largest observed impact crater Constraints on the composition and thermal structure of Ariel’s icy crust as inferred from its largest observed impact crater
The large graben-like troughs and smooth plains visible on the surface of Ariel are indicative of a period of high heat flow in the Uranian moon's past. High heat flows on icy moons like Ariel can also enable viscous flow that removes impact crater topography, a process called viscous relaxation. Here we use numerical modeling to investigate the conditions necessary to viscously relax...
Authors
Michael Bland, Chloe Beddingfield, Tom Nordheim, Donald Patthoff, Steven Vance
Silicate volcanism on Europa’s seafloor and implications for habitability Silicate volcanism on Europa’s seafloor and implications for habitability
Habitable ocean environments on Europa require an influx of reactants to maintain chemical disequilibrium. One possible source of reactants is seafloor volcanism. Modeling has shown that dissipation of tidal energy in Europa's asthenosphere can generate melt, but melt formation cannot be equated with volcanism. Melt must also be transported through Europa's cold lithosphere to erupt at...
Authors
Michael Bland, Catherine Elder
How well do we know Europa’s topography? An evaluation of the variability in digital terrain models of Europa. How well do we know Europa’s topography? An evaluation of the variability in digital terrain models of Europa.
Jupiter’s moon Europa harbors one of the most likely environments for extant extraterrestrial life. Determining whether Europa is truly habitable requires understanding the structure and thickness of its ice shell, including the existence of perched water or brines. Stereo-derived topography from images acquired by NASA Galileo’s Solid State Imager (SSI) of Europa are often used as a...
Authors
Michael Bland, Randolph Kirk, Donna Galuszka, David Mayer, R. Beyer, Robin Fergason
Non-USGS Publications**
Bland, M. T. 2013. Predicted crater morphologies on Ceres: Probing internal structure and evolution. Icarus, 226, 510-521.
Bland, M. T. and McKinnon, W. B., 2013. Does folding accommodate Europa’s contractional strain? The effect of surface temperature on fold formation in ice lithospheres. Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 2534-2538, doi:10.1002/grl.50506.
Bland, M. T., and McKinnon, W. B., 2012. Forming Europa’s folds: Strain requirements for the production of large-amplitude deformation. Icarus,221, 694-709.
Bland, M. T., Singer, K. S., McKinnon, W. B., and Schenk, P. M. 2012. Enceladus’ extreme heat flux as revealed by its relaxed craters. Geo. Res. Lett., 39, L17204, doi:10.1029/2012GL052736.
Bland, M. T., McKinnon, W. B., and Showman, A. P., 2010. The effects of strain localization on the formation of Ganymede’s grooved terrain. Icarus, 210, 396-410.
Bland, M. T., Showman, A. P., and Tobie, G., 2009. The orbital-thermal evolution and global expansion of Ganymede. Icarus, 200, 207-221.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Numerical simulations of lithospheric shortening on the ice-covered moons Europa and Enceladus Numerical simulations of lithospheric shortening on the ice-covered moons Europa and Enceladus
Jupiter’s moon Europa and Saturn’s moon Enceladus have many commonalities; however, the surfaces of the two moons bear little resemblance to each other. Significantly, although both moons show ample evidence of lithospheric extension (e.g., rifting), only Enceladus has obvious features formed by lithospheric shortening. We hypothesize that this difference is primarily caused by the...
Improved camera pointing and spacecraft ephemeris data for Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) images of the lunar poles. Improved camera pointing and spacecraft ephemeris data for Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) images of the lunar poles.
NASA’s lunar exploration objectives, which include both robotic and human missions to the surface, require data products with high spatial resolution and accuracy. Using rigorous photogrammetric methods, we have co-aligned thousands of high-resolution images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) [Robbinson et al. 2010] of the lunar north and south...
Mars Sample Return HiRISE Mosaics for Terrain Relative Navigation Mars Sample Return HiRISE Mosaics for Terrain Relative Navigation
In order to support the landing and operations of NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) previously generated Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and orthoimage mosaics of the floor of Jezero crater. Over four years of operations, Perseverance has collected numerous samples while climbing the western rim of Jezero and has travelled beyond the extent of the...
Photogrammetrically Controlled, Equirectangular Galileo Image Mosaics of Europa Photogrammetrically Controlled, Equirectangular Galileo Image Mosaics of Europa
The Solid State Imager (SSI) on NASA's Galileo spacecraft acquired more than 500 images of Jupiter's moon, Europa, providing the only moderate- to high-resolution images of the moon's surface. Images were acquired as observation sequences during each orbit that targeted the moon. Each of these observation sequences consists of between 1 and 19 images acquired close in time, that...
Filter Total Items: 37
No magmatic driving force for Europan sea-floor volcanism No magmatic driving force for Europan sea-floor volcanism
The internal ocean of Jupiter’s moon Europa is thought to be a prime candidate for hosting extraterrestrial life. Europa’s silicate interior may contribute to habitability via the generation of reactants through hydrothermal activity, serpentinization, or other geological processes occurring on or just below Europa’s seafloor. However, silicate melting is thought to occur at >100 km...
Authors
A.P. Green, Catherine Elder, Michael Thomas Bland, Paul Tackley, Paul K. Byrne
The Europa Imaging System (EIS) investigation The Europa Imaging System (EIS) investigation
The Europa Imaging System (EIS) consists of a Narrow-Angle Camera (NAC) and a Wide-Angle Camera (WAC) that are designed to work together to address high-priority science objectives regarding Europa’s geology, composition, and the nature of its ice shell. EIS accommodates variable geometry and illumination during rapid, low-altitude flybys with both framing and pushbroom imaging...
Authors
E.P. Turtle, A.S. McEwen, G.W. Patterson, C. Ernst, C.M. Elder, K.A. Slack, S.E. Hawkins, J. McDermott, H. Meyer, R. DeMajistre, R. Espiritu, H. Seifert, J. Niewola, Michael Bland, M.K. Becker, J. Centurelli, G.C. Collins, P. Corlies, H. Darlington, I. Daubar, C. Derr, C. Detelich, E. Donald, W. Edens, L. Fletcher, C. Gardner, F. Graham, C.J. Hansen, C. Haslebacher, A.G. Hayes, D. Humm, T.A. Hurford, Randolph Kirk, N. Kutsop, W.J. Lees, D. Lewis, S. London, A. Magner, M.A. Mills, A.C. Barr Mlinar, F. Morgan, F. Nimmo, A. Ocasio Milanes, S. Osterman, C.B. Phillips, A. Pommerol, L. Prockter, L.C. Quick, G. Robbins, J.M. Soderblom, B.A. Stewart, A. Stickle, S.S. Sutton, N. Thomas, I. Torres, O.J. Tucker, R.B. Van Auken, K.A. Wilk
Geologic constraints on the formation and evolution of Saturn’s mid-sized moons Geologic constraints on the formation and evolution of Saturn’s mid-sized moons
Saturn’s mid-sized icy moons have complex relationships with Saturn’s interior, the rings, and with each other, which can be expressed in their shapes, interiors, and geology. Observations of their physical states can, thus, provide important constraints on the ages and formation mechanism(s) of the moons, which in turn informs our understanding of the formation and evolution of Saturn...
Authors
Alyssa Rhoden, Sierra Ferguson, William Bottke, Julie C. Castillo-Rogez, Emily Martin, Michael Bland, Michelle R. Kirchoff, Marco Zannoni, Nicolas Rambaux, Julien Salmon
The evolution of a young ocean within Mimas The evolution of a young ocean within Mimas
The fractured, young surfaces on confirmed ocean worlds such as Europa and Enceladus suggest that ocean-bearing moons with relatively thin overlying ice shells should be easy to identify. Hence, the discovery that Mimas’ rotation state is best explained by an internal ocean seems challenging to reconcile with its heavily cratered surface. Previous studies have shown that an internal...
Authors
A. Rhoden, M. Walker, M. Rudolph, Michael Bland, Michael Manga
Planned geological investigations of the Europa Clipper mission Planned geological investigations of the Europa Clipper mission
Geological investigations planned for the Europa Clipper mission will examine the formation, evolution, and expression of geomorphic structures found on the surface. Understanding geologic features, their formation, and any recent activity are key inputs in constraining Europa’s potential for habitability. In addition to providing information about the moon’s habitability, the geologic...
Authors
I. Daubar, A. Hayes, Gail Collins, K. Craft, J. Rathbun, J.R. Spencer, D. Wyrick, Michael Bland, A. Davies, C. Ernst, Samuel Howell, Erin Leonard, Alfred McEwen, J. Moore, C. Phillips, L. Prockter, L. Quick, J. Scully, J. Soderblom, S. Brooks, M. Cable, M. Cameron, K. Chan, C. Chivers, M. Choukroun, Corey Cochrane, S. Diniega, A. Dombard, Catherine Elder, Christopher Gerekos, Christopher Glein, T Greathouse, C. Grima, Murthy Gudipati, K. Hand, C. Hansen, Paul Hayne, M. Hedman, K. Hughson, X. Jia, J. Lawrence, H. Meyer, H. Miller, Gerald Patterson, D Persaud, S. Piqueux, K. Retherford, Kirk Scanlan, P. Schenk, B. Schmidt, D. Schroeder, Gregor Steinbrugge, A. Stern, Gabriel Tobie, Paul Withers, D. A. Young, B. Buratti, Haje Korth, D. Senske, Robert Pappalardo
Current status of the community sensor model standard for the generation of planetary digital terrain models Current status of the community sensor model standard for the generation of planetary digital terrain models
The creation of accurate elevation models (topography) from stereo images are critical for a large variety of geospatial activities, including the production of digital orthomosaics, change detection, landing site analysis, geologic mapping, rover traverse planning, and spectral analysis. The United Stated Geological Survey, Astrogeology Science Center, continues to transition the...
Authors
Trent Hare, Randolph Kirk, Michael Bland, Donna Galuszka, Jason Laura, David Mayer, Bonnie Redding, Benjamin Wheeler
The inevitability of large shallow craters on Callisto and Ganymede: Implications for crater depth-diameter trends The inevitability of large shallow craters on Callisto and Ganymede: Implications for crater depth-diameter trends
Complex craters with diameters (D) ≥ 40 km on Callisto and Ganymede are shallower than would be expected from simply extrapolating the depth-diameter trend from smaller (D ≤ 40 km) craters. This unusual depth-diameter (d-D) trend, and associated changes in crater morphology, have been hypothesized to result from rheological transitions, including the existence of an ocean, within the...
Authors
Michael Bland, Veronica Bray
Exploring the interior of Europa with the Europa Clipper Exploring the interior of Europa with the Europa Clipper
The Galileo mission to Jupiter revealed that Europa is an ocean world. The Galileo magnetometer experiment in particular provided strong evidence for a salty subsurface ocean beneath the ice shell, likely in contact with the rocky core. Within the ice shell and ocean, a number of tectonic and geodynamic processes may operate today or have operated at some point in the past, including...
Authors
James Roberts, William B. McKinnon, Catherine Elder, Gabriel Tobie, John Biersteker, Duncan Young, Ryan S. Park, Gregor Steinbrugge, Francis Nimmo, Samuel Howell, Julie C. Castillo-Rogez, Morgan Cable, Jacob Abrahams, Michael Bland, Chase Chivers, Corey Cochrane, Andrew Dombard, Carolyn Ernst, Antonio Genova, Christopher Gerekos, Christopher Glein, Camilla Harris, Hamish Hay, Paul Hayne, Matthew Hedman, Hauke Hussmann, Xianzhe Jia, Krishan Khurana, Walter Kiefer, Randolph Kirk, Margaret Kivelson, Justin Lawrence, Erin Leonard, Jonathan Lunine, Erwan Mazarico, Thomas McCord, Alfred McEwen, Carol Paty, Lynnae Quick, Carol Raymond, Kurt Retherford, Lorenz Roth, Abigail Rymer, Joachim Saur, Kirk Scanlan, Dustin Schroeder, David Senske, Wencheng Shao, Krista Soderlund, Elizabeth Spiers, Marshall Styczinski, Paolo Tortora, Steven Vance, Michaela Villarreal, Benjamin Weiss, Joseph Westlake, Paul Withers, Natalie Wolfenbarger, Bonnie Buratti, Haje Korth, Robert Pappalardo, Interior Group
Viscous relaxation of Oort and Edgeworth craters on Pluto: Possible indicators of an epoch of early high heat flow Viscous relaxation of Oort and Edgeworth craters on Pluto: Possible indicators of an epoch of early high heat flow
Impact craters, with their well-defined initial shapes, have proven useful as heat flow probes of a number of icy bodies, provided characteristics of viscous relaxation can be identified. For Pluto's numerous craters, such identifications are hampered/complicated by infilling and erosion by mobile volatile ices, but not in every case. Large craters offer relatively deep probes of...
Authors
W. McKinnon, Michael Bland, K. Singer, P. Schenk, S. Robbins
Constraints on the composition and thermal structure of Ariel’s icy crust as inferred from its largest observed impact crater Constraints on the composition and thermal structure of Ariel’s icy crust as inferred from its largest observed impact crater
The large graben-like troughs and smooth plains visible on the surface of Ariel are indicative of a period of high heat flow in the Uranian moon's past. High heat flows on icy moons like Ariel can also enable viscous flow that removes impact crater topography, a process called viscous relaxation. Here we use numerical modeling to investigate the conditions necessary to viscously relax...
Authors
Michael Bland, Chloe Beddingfield, Tom Nordheim, Donald Patthoff, Steven Vance
Silicate volcanism on Europa’s seafloor and implications for habitability Silicate volcanism on Europa’s seafloor and implications for habitability
Habitable ocean environments on Europa require an influx of reactants to maintain chemical disequilibrium. One possible source of reactants is seafloor volcanism. Modeling has shown that dissipation of tidal energy in Europa's asthenosphere can generate melt, but melt formation cannot be equated with volcanism. Melt must also be transported through Europa's cold lithosphere to erupt at...
Authors
Michael Bland, Catherine Elder
How well do we know Europa’s topography? An evaluation of the variability in digital terrain models of Europa. How well do we know Europa’s topography? An evaluation of the variability in digital terrain models of Europa.
Jupiter’s moon Europa harbors one of the most likely environments for extant extraterrestrial life. Determining whether Europa is truly habitable requires understanding the structure and thickness of its ice shell, including the existence of perched water or brines. Stereo-derived topography from images acquired by NASA Galileo’s Solid State Imager (SSI) of Europa are often used as a...
Authors
Michael Bland, Randolph Kirk, Donna Galuszka, David Mayer, R. Beyer, Robin Fergason
Non-USGS Publications**
Bland, M. T. 2013. Predicted crater morphologies on Ceres: Probing internal structure and evolution. Icarus, 226, 510-521.
Bland, M. T. and McKinnon, W. B., 2013. Does folding accommodate Europa’s contractional strain? The effect of surface temperature on fold formation in ice lithospheres. Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 2534-2538, doi:10.1002/grl.50506.
Bland, M. T., and McKinnon, W. B., 2012. Forming Europa’s folds: Strain requirements for the production of large-amplitude deformation. Icarus,221, 694-709.
Bland, M. T., Singer, K. S., McKinnon, W. B., and Schenk, P. M. 2012. Enceladus’ extreme heat flux as revealed by its relaxed craters. Geo. Res. Lett., 39, L17204, doi:10.1029/2012GL052736.
Bland, M. T., McKinnon, W. B., and Showman, A. P., 2010. The effects of strain localization on the formation of Ganymede’s grooved terrain. Icarus, 210, 396-410.
Bland, M. T., Showman, A. P., and Tobie, G., 2009. The orbital-thermal evolution and global expansion of Ganymede. Icarus, 200, 207-221.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.