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Titan's surface from the Cassini RADAR radiometry data during SAR mode Titan's surface from the Cassini RADAR radiometry data during SAR mode

We present initial results on the calibration and interpretation of the high-resolution radiometry data acquired during the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mode (SAR-radiometry) of the Cassini Radar Mapper during its first five flybys of Saturn's moon Titan. We construct maps of the brightness temperature at the 2-cm wavelength coincident with SAR swath imaging. A preliminary radiometry...
Authors
F. Paganelli, M.A. Janssen, R.M. Lopes, E. Stofan, S. D. Wall, R. D. Lorenz, J. I. Lunine, Randolph L. Kirk, L. Roth, C. Elachi

Scientific and public responses to the ongoing volcanic crisis at Popocatépetl Volcano, Mexico: Importance of an effective hazards-warning system Scientific and public responses to the ongoing volcanic crisis at Popocatépetl Volcano, Mexico: Importance of an effective hazards-warning system

Volcanic eruptions and other potentially hazardous natural phenomena occur independently of any human actions. However, such phenomena can cause disasters when a society fails to foresee the hazardous manifestations and adopt adequate measures to reduce its vulnerability. One of the causes of such a failure is the lack of a consistent perception of the changing hazards posed by an...
Authors
Servando De la Cruz-Reyna, Robert I. Tilling

3D crustal structure and long-period ground motions from a M9.0 megathrust earthquake in the Pacific Northwest region 3D crustal structure and long-period ground motions from a M9.0 megathrust earthquake in the Pacific Northwest region

We have developed a community velocity model for the Pacific Northwest region from northern California to southern Canada and carried out the first 3D simulation of a Mw 9.0 megathrust earthquake rupturing along the Cascadia subduction zone using a parallel supercomputer. A long-period (
Authors
K.B. Olsen, W. J. Stephenson, A. Geisselmeyer

Effects of topography and crustal heterogeneities on the source estimation of LP event at Kilauea volcano Effects of topography and crustal heterogeneities on the source estimation of LP event at Kilauea volcano

The main goal of this study is to improve the modelling of the source mechanism associated with the generation of long period (LP) signals in volcanic areas. Our intent is to evaluate the effects that detailed structural features of the volcanic models play in the generation of LP signal and the consequent retrieval of LP source characteristics. In particular, effects associated with the...
Authors
S. Cesca, J. Battaglia, T. Dahm, E. Tessmer, S. Heimann, Paul G. Okubo

Seismic and acoustic recordings of an unusually large rockfall at Mount St. Helens, Washington Seismic and acoustic recordings of an unusually large rockfall at Mount St. Helens, Washington

On 29 May 2006 a large rockfall off the Mount St. Helens lava dome produced an atmospheric plume that was reported by airplane pilots to have risen to 6,000 m above sea level and interpreted to be a result of an explosive event. However, subsequent field reconnaissance found no evidence of a ballistic field, indicating that there was no explosive component. The rockfall produced complex...
Authors
Seth C. Moran, R.S. Matoza, M.A. Garces, M.A.H. Hedlin, D. Bowers, William E. Scott, David R. Sherrod, James W. Vallance

Seasonally active frost-dust avalanches on a north polar scarp of Mars captured by HiRISE Seasonally active frost-dust avalanches on a north polar scarp of Mars captured by HiRISE

North-polar temporal monitoring by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) orbiting Mars has discovered new, dramatic examples that Mars1 CO2-dominated seasonal volatile cycle is not limited to quiet deposition and sublimation of frost. In early northern martian spring, 2008, HiRISE captured several cases of CO2 frost and dust cascading down a steep, polar scarp in...
Authors
Patrick S. Russell, Nicolas Thomas, Shane Byrne, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Kathryn E. Fishbaugh, Nathan Bridges, Chris Okubo, Moses P. Milazzo, Ingrid J. Daubar, Candice J. Hansen, Alfred S. McEwen

Swarms of similar long-period earthquakes in the mantle beneath Mauna Loa Volcano Swarms of similar long-period earthquakes in the mantle beneath Mauna Loa Volcano

We present analyses of two swarms of long-period (LP) earthquakes at > 30 km depth that accompanied the geodetically observed 2002–2005 Mauna Loa intrusion. The first LP earthquake swarm in 2002 consisted of 31 events that were precursory and preceded the start of Mauna Loa inflation; the second LP swarm of two thousand events occurred from 2004–2005. The rate of LP earthquakes slowed
Authors
Paul G. Okubo, C.J. Wolfe

Composition and origin of the Dewar geochemical anomaly Composition and origin of the Dewar geochemical anomaly

Dewar crater is a 50-km diameter impact structure located in the highlands northwest of the South Pole–Aitken basin on the lunar farside. A low-albedo area with enhanced Th and Sm values is centered east-northeast of Dewar crater. This area also exhibits elevated FeO abundances (9.0–16.6 wt %) and TiO2 values (0.6–2 wt %). The range of FeO and TiO2 abundances determined for the darkest...
Authors
Samuel J. Lawrence, B. Ray Hawke, Jeffrey J. Gillis-Davis, G. Jeffrey Taylor, David J. Lawrence, Joshua T. Cahill, Justin Hagerty, Paul G. Lucey, Gregory A. Smith, Klaus Keil

North polar region of Mars: Advances in stratigraphy, structure, and erosional modification North polar region of Mars: Advances in stratigraphy, structure, and erosional modification

We have remapped the geology of the north polar plateau on Mars, Planum Boreum, and the surrounding plains of Vastitas Borealis using altimetry and image data along with thematic maps resulting from observations made by the Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. New and revised geographic and geologic terminologies assist with...
Authors
Kenneth L. Tanaka, J. Alexis P. Rodriguez, James A. Skinner, Mary C. Bourke, Corey M. Fortezzo, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Eric J. Kolb, Chris Okubo

Reevaluation of the macroseismic effects of the 1887 Sonora, Mexico earthquake and its magnitude estimation Reevaluation of the macroseismic effects of the 1887 Sonora, Mexico earthquake and its magnitude estimation

The Sonora, Mexico, earthquake of 3 May 1887 occurred a few years before the start of the instrumental era in seismology. We revisit all available accounts of the earthquake and assign Modified Mercalli Intensities (MMI), interpreting and analyzing macroseismic information using the best available modern methods. We find that earlier intensity assignments for this important earthquake...
Authors
Gerardo Suarez, Susan E. Hough

Recent extreme avalanches: Triggered by climate change? Recent extreme avalanches: Triggered by climate change?

On 25 September 2008, seismo meters operated by the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) registered strong ground shaking. On the basis of previous experience with such large seismic signals, AVO personnel were able to rapidly identify the seismic event as an avalanche. Two days later, an AVO overflight of Iliamna volcano, near Alaska's Cook Inlet, confirmed that a massive chunk of glacial...
Authors
C. Huggel, J. Caplan-Auerbach, Rick Wessels
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