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Opportunity Mars Rover mission: Overview and selected results from Purgatory ripple to traverses to Endeavour crater Opportunity Mars Rover mission: Overview and selected results from Purgatory ripple to traverses to Endeavour crater

Opportunity has been traversing the Meridiani plains since 25 January 2004 (sol 1), acquiring numerous observations of the atmosphere, soils, and rocks. This paper provides an overview of key discoveries between sols 511 and 2300, complementing earlier papers covering results from the initial phases of the mission. Key new results include (1) atmospheric argon measurements that...
Authors
R. E. Arvidson, James W. Ashley, J.F. Bell, M. Chojnacki, J. Cohen, T.E. Economou, W. H. Farrand, Robin L. Fergason, I. Fleischer, Paul E. Geissler, Ralf Gellert, M.P. Golombek, J.P. Grotzinger, E.A. Guinness, R.M. Haberle, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J.A. Herman, K.D. Iagnemma, B.L. Jolliff, J. R. Johnson, G. Klingelhofer, A.H. Knoll, A.T. Knudson, R. Li, S. M. McLennan, D. W. Mittlefehldt, R.V. Morris, T. J. Parker, M.S. Rice, C. Schroder, Laurence A. Soderblom, S. W. Squyres, R.J. Sullivan, M.J. Wolff

The ShakeOut scenario: A hypothetical Mw7.8 earthquake on the Southern San Andreas Fault The ShakeOut scenario: A hypothetical Mw7.8 earthquake on the Southern San Andreas Fault

In 2008, an earthquake-planning scenario document was released by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and California Geological Survey that hypothesizes the occurrence and effects of a Mw7.8 earthquake on the southern San Andreas Fault. It was created by more than 300 scientists and engineers. Fault offsets reach 13 m and up to 8 m at lifeline crossings. Physics-based modeling was used to...
Authors
K. Porter, L. Jones, D. Cox, J. Goltz, K. Hudnut, D. Mileti, S. Perry, D. Ponti, M. Reichle, A.Z. Rose, C.R. Scawthorn, H.A. Seligson, K.I. Shoaf, J. Treiman, A. Wein

On the contribution of reconstruction labor wages and material prices to demand surge On the contribution of reconstruction labor wages and material prices to demand surge

Demand surge is understood to be a socio-economic phenomenon of large-scale natural disasters, most commonly explained by higher repair costs (after a large- versus small-scale disaster) resulting from higher material prices and labor wages. This study tests this explanation by developing quantitative models for the cost change of sets, or "baskets," of repairs to damage caused by...
Authors
Anna H. Olsen, Keith A. Porter

Observations of debris flows at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA: Part 2, changes in surface morphometry from terrestrial laser scanning in the summer of 2009 Observations of debris flows at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado, USA: Part 2, changes in surface morphometry from terrestrial laser scanning in the summer of 2009

High resolution topographic data that quantify changes in channel form caused by sequential debris flows in natural channels are rare at the reach scale. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) techniques are utilized to capture morphological changes brought about by a high-frequency of debris-flow events at Chalk Cliffs, Colorado. The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the...
Authors
Dennis M. Staley, Thad A. Wasklewicz, Jeffrey A. Coe, Jason W. Kean, Scott W. McCoy, Greg E. Tucker

Earthquake rupture at focal depth, part II: mechanics of the 2004 M2.2 earthquake along the Pretorius Fault, TauTona Mine, South Africa Earthquake rupture at focal depth, part II: mechanics of the 2004 M2.2 earthquake along the Pretorius Fault, TauTona Mine, South Africa

We analyze here the rupture mechanics of the 2004, M2.2 earthquake based on our observations and measurements at focal depth (Part I). This event ruptured the Archean Pretorius fault that has been inactive for at least 2 Ga, and was reactivated due to mining operations down to a depth of 3.6 km depth. Thus, it was expected that the Pretorius fault zone will fail similarly to an intact...
Authors
V. Heesakkers, S. Murphy, D.A. Lockner, Z. Reches

Assessment of topographic and drainage network controls on debris-flow travel distance along the west coast of the United States Assessment of topographic and drainage network controls on debris-flow travel distance along the west coast of the United States

To better understand controls on debris-flow entrainment and travel distance, we examined topographic and drainage network characteristics of initiation locations in two separate debris-flow prone areas located 700 km apart along the west coast of the U.S. One area was located in northern California, the other in southern Oregon. In both areas, debris flows mobilized from slides during...
Authors
Jeffrey A. Coe, Mark E. Reid, Dainne L. Brien, John A. Michael

Studying geodesy and earthquake hazard in and around the New Madrid Seismic Zone Studying geodesy and earthquake hazard in and around the New Madrid Seismic Zone

Workshop on New Madrid Geodesy and the Challenges of Understanding Intraplate Earthquakes; Norwood, Massachusetts, 4 March 2011 Twenty-six researchers gathered for a workshop sponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and FM Global to discuss geodesy in and around the New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ) and its relation to earthquake hazards. The group addressed the challenge of...
Authors
Oliver Salz Boyd, Harold Magistrale

Hyperspectral analysis of rocky surfaces on the Earth and other planetary systems: Chapter 27 Hyperspectral analysis of rocky surfaces on the Earth and other planetary systems: Chapter 27

This book is focused on studies of vegetation on Earth using hyperspectral remote sensing methods. However, it is appropriate to extend the application of these methods out to other rocky bodies in our Solar System for a variety of reasons. First, minerals, soils, and rocks form the substrate on which vegetation grows on Earth. Compositional analyses of these components with...
Authors
R. Greg Vaughan, Timothy N. Titus, Jeffery R Johnson, Justin Hagerty, Lisa R. Gaddis, Laurence A. Soderblom, Paul E. Geissler

Positive feedback and momentum growth during debris-flow entrainment of wet bed sediment Positive feedback and momentum growth during debris-flow entrainment of wet bed sediment

Debris flows typically occur when intense rainfall or snowmelt triggers landslides or extensive erosion on steep, debris-mantled slopes. The flows can then grow dramatically in size and speed as they entrain material from their beds and banks, but the mechanism of this growth is unclear. Indeed, momentum conservation implies that entrainment of static material should retard the motion of...
Authors
Richard M. Iverson, Mark E. Reid, Matthew Logan, Richard G. Lahusen, Jonathan W. Godt, Julia P. Griswold

An empirical model of the quiet daily geomagnetic field variation An empirical model of the quiet daily geomagnetic field variation

An empirical model of the quiet daily geomagnetic field variation has been constructed based on geomagnetic data obtained from 21 stations along the 210 Magnetic Meridian of the Circum‐pan Pacific Magnetometer Network (CPMN) from 1996 to 2007. Using the least squares fitting method for geomagnetically quiet days (Kp ≤ 2+), the quiet daily geomagnetic field variation at each station was...
Authors
Y. Yamazaki, K. Yumoto, M.G. Cardinal, B.J. Fraser, P. Hattori, Y. Kakinami, J.Y. Liu, K.J.W. Lynn, R. Marshall, D. McNamara, T. Nagatsuma, V.M. Nikiforov, R.E. Otadoy, M. Ruhimat, B.M. Shevtsov, K. Shiokawa, S. Abe, T. Uozumi, A. Yoshikawa

Whole-edifice ice volume change A.D. 1970 to 2007/2008 at Mount Rainier, Washington, based on LiDAR surveying Whole-edifice ice volume change A.D. 1970 to 2007/2008 at Mount Rainier, Washington, based on LiDAR surveying

Net changes in thickness and volume of glacial ice and perennial snow at Mount Rainier, Washington State, have been mapped over the entire edifice by differencing between a highresolution LiDAR (light detection and ranging) topographic survey of September-October 2007/2008 and the 10 m lateral resolution U.S. Geological Survey digital elevation model derived from September 1970 aerial...
Authors
T. W. Sisson, J.E. Robinson, D.D. Swinney
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