Deputy Astrogeology Science Center Director and Research Operations Lead.
Chris helps to oversee management of the Astrogeology Science Center. He currently serves as chief for the Research Operations branch of the Astrogeology Science Center and continues research activities as time permits.
Chris has studied thermal characterization of pit craters on Kīlauea volcano, Hawai‘i, high resolution structural mapping in west Candor Chasma, Mars, stability analyses of Martian “gullies” and investigation of formation mechanisms and geotechnical assessments of planetary soils and rock masses. He has also studied fracture-controlled fluid flow on Mars, strain localization in porous rocks and implications for deformation band formation, structural analysis of thrust fault-related folds on Mars and satellite monitoring of active terrestrial volcanoes.
Professional Experience
U.S. Geological Survey, Astrogeology Science Center, Deputy Center Director and Research Operations Lead (2018-Present)
U.S. Geological Survey, Astrogeology Science Center, Research Geophysicist (2008 - 2018)
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Postdoctoral Research Associate (2005 - 2008)
Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Research Assistant (2000 - 2005)
Hawai‘i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai‘i, Research Associate (1997 - 2000)
HiRISE Co-Investigator and theme lead for tectonic processes
Mission operations for the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Science team member on the Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) camera for the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Geological Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, 2005
B.S., Geology & Geophysics, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, 1997
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union
Geological Society of America
Wilderness Medicine Institute
Honors and Awards
NASA Group Achievement award, MSL Relay Operations Team, 2014
NASA Group Achievement award, HiRISE Operations Team, 2011
NASA Early Career Fellow in Planetary Science, 2006-2010
Outstanding Ph.D. student in geoengineering, Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, 2004
Overall Outstanding Graduate, Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, 2004
Science and Products
A preliminary regional geomorphologic map in Utopia Planitia of the Tianwen-1 Zhurong Landing Region
Clastic pipes and mud volcanism across Mars: Terrestrial analog evidence of past Martian groundwater and subsurface fluid mobilization
The Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) for the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter
Martian cave air-movement via Helmholtz resonance
Pleistocene Lake Bonneville as an analog for extraterrestrial lakes and oceans
The central uplift of Ritchey crater, Mars
Atypical pit craters on Mars: new insights from THEMIS, CTX and HiRISE observations
Fault populations
Thin-skinned deformation of sedimentary rocks in Valles Marineris, Mars
Utah's geologic and geomorphic analogs to Mars—An overview for planetary exploration
Constraints on mechanisms for the growth of gully alcoves in Gasa crater, Mars, from two-dimensional stability assessments of rock slopes
The indication of Martian gully formation processes by slope-area analysis
Caves
Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET)
Geologic map of Kalaupapa Peninsula, Moloka‘i, Hawai‘i, USA
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 26
A preliminary regional geomorphologic map in Utopia Planitia of the Tianwen-1 Zhurong Landing Region
A geomorphologic map is an important step to understanding the geologic context and history of a site; here, we present an initial geomorphologic map for an area spanning 22°–26°N, 108°–112°E in the Utopia Planitia (UP) region on Mars. This site is of special interest because it contains the May 2021 landing site of the Zhurong rover from Tianwen-1. Utopia Planitia exhibits many lobate features thClastic pipes and mud volcanism across Mars: Terrestrial analog evidence of past Martian groundwater and subsurface fluid mobilization
Clastic pipes are cylindrical injection features that vertically crosscut bedding with sharp contacts. Terrestrial pipes have cylindrical morphologies, massive or radially graded interiors, and raised outer rims. Increased grain size and subsequent cementation along the more porous edges makes the rims more resistant to weathering. Pipes have crosscutting relationships with other pipes due to multThe Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) for the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter
The Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) is the main imaging system onboard the European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) which was launched on 14 March 2016. CaSSIS is intended to acquire moderately high resolution (4.6 m/pixel) targeted images of Mars at a rate of 10–20 images per day from a roughly circular orbit 400 km above the surface. Each image can be acquired inMartian cave air-movement via Helmholtz resonance
Infrasonic resonance has previously been measured in terrestrial caves by other researchers, where Helmholtz resonance has been suggested as the plausible mechanism resulting in periodic wind reversals within cave entrances. We extend this reasoning to possible Martian caves, where we examine the characteristics of four atypical pit craters (APCs) on Tharsis, suggested as candidate cave entrance lPleistocene Lake Bonneville as an analog for extraterrestrial lakes and oceans
Geomorphic confirmation for a putative ancient Mars ocean relies on analog comparisons of coastal-like features such as shoreline feature attributes and temporal scales of process formation. Pleistocene Lake Bonneville is one of the few large, geologically young, terrestrial lake systems that exemplify well-preserved shoreline characteristics that formed quickly, on the order of a thousand years oThe central uplift of Ritchey crater, Mars
Ritchey crater is a ∼79 km diameter complex crater near the boundary between Hesperian ridged plains and Noachian highland terrain on Mars (28.8°S, 309.0°E) that formed after the Noachian. High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) images of the central peak reveal fractured massive bedrock and megabreccia with large clasts. Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) speAtypical pit craters on Mars: new insights from THEMIS, CTX and HiRISE observations
More than 100 pit craters in the Tharsis region of Mars exhibit morphologies, diameters and thermal behaviors that diverge from the much larger bowl-shaped pit craters that occur in most regions across Mars. These Atypical Pit Craters (APCs) generally have sharp and distinct rims, vertical or overhanging walls that extend down to their floors, surface diameters of ~50-350 m, and high depth-to-diamFault populations
No abstract available.Thin-skinned deformation of sedimentary rocks in Valles Marineris, Mars
Deformation of sedimentary rocks is widespread within Valles Marineris, characterized by both plastic and brittle deformation identified in Candor, Melas, and Ius Chasmata. We identified four deformation styles using HiRISE and CTX images: kilometer-scale convolute folds, detached slabs, folded strata, and pull-apart structures. Convolute folds are detached rounded slabs of material with alternatiUtah's geologic and geomorphic analogs to Mars—An overview for planetary exploration
Utah offers spectacular geologic features and valuable analog environments and processes for Mars studies. Horizontal strata of the Colorado Plateau are analogous to Mars because the overprint of plate tectonics is minimal, yet the effects of strong ground motion from earthquakes or impacts are preserved in the sedimentary record. The close proximity of analog environments and lack of vegetative cConstraints on mechanisms for the growth of gully alcoves in Gasa crater, Mars, from two-dimensional stability assessments of rock slopes
The value of slope stability analyses for gaining insight into the geologic conditions that would facilitate the growth of gully alcoves on Mars is demonstrated in Gasa crater. Two-dimensional limit equilibrium methods are used in conjunction with high-resolution topography derived from stereo High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) imagery. These analyses reveal three conditions thatThe indication of Martian gully formation processes by slope-area analysis
The formation process of recent gullies on Mars is currently under debate. This study aims to discriminate between the proposed formation processes - pure water flow, debris flow and dry mass wasting - through the application of geomorphological indices commonly used in terrestrial geomorphology. High-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) of Earth and Mars were used to evaluate the drainage c - Science
Caves
The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on caves. In particular, we are interested in the physics of caves, which involves the application of the principles of heat transfer, mass transfer and meteorology to understand how cave climates evolve. We are also interested in caves on other planetary bodies and moons, and how they may be used as resources for future missions.Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET)
The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center (ASC) recently established the Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET) program. This service-oriented program is built around the recognition that the Earth is a fundamental training ground for human and robotic planetary exploration, and that ASC is in a unique position in northern Arizona with... - Maps
Geologic map of Kalaupapa Peninsula, Moloka‘i, Hawai‘i, USA
Kalaupapa Peninsula, along the northern coast of East Moloka‘i volcano, is a remarkably well-preserved example of rejuvenated-stage volcanism from a Hawaiian volcano. Mapping of lava flows, vents and other volcanic constructs reveals a diversity of landforms on this small monogenetic basaltic shield. The late-stage lava distributary system of this shield is dominated by a prominent lava channel an - Multimedia
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*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government