Chris H Okubo, PhD
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
Interpretation and analysis of planetary structures
Thin-skinned deformation of sedimentary rocks in Valles Marineris, Mars
Structural geology of Amazonian-aged layered sedimentary deposits in southwest Candor Chasma, Mars
Evidence for debris flow gully formation initiated by shallow subsurface water on Mars
Inverted channel deposits on the floor of Miyamoto crater, Mars
Geomorphic knobs of Candor Chasma, Mars: New Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter data and comparisons to terrestrial analogs
The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) during MRO's Primary Science Phase (PSP)
Coregistration of Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) topography with high-resolution Mars images
Shallow radar (SHARAD) sounding observations of the Medusae Fossae Formation, Mars
Deformation band clusters on Mars and implications for subsurface fluid flow
Dielectric properties of lava flows west of Ascraeus Mons, Mars
Relative age of interior layered deposits in southwest Candor Chasma based on high-resolution structural mapping
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
- Maps
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 27
Interpretation and analysis of planetary structures
Structural geology is an integral part of planetary science. Planetary structures provide the framework for determining the character and sequence of crustal deformation while simultaneously establishing the observational basis required to test geodynamic hypotheses for the deformation of planetary and satellite lithospheres. The availability of datasets that record spatial and topographic informaAuthorsRichard A. Schultz, Ernst Hauber, Simon A. Kattenhorn, Chris H. Okubo, Thomas R. WattersThin-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 alternatiAuthorsJoannah Metz, John P. Grotzinger, Chris Okubo, Ralph MillikenStructural geology of Amazonian-aged layered sedimentary deposits in southwest Candor Chasma, Mars
The structural geology of an outcropping of layered sedimentary deposits in southwest Candor Chasma is mapped using two adjacent high-resolution (1 m/pixel) HiRISE digital elevation models and orthoimagery. Analysis of these structural data yields new insight into the depositional and deformational history of these deposits. Bedding in non-deformed areas generally dips toward the center of west CaAuthorsChris OkuboEvidence for debris flow gully formation initiated by shallow subsurface water on Mars
The morphologies of some martian gullies appear similar to terrestrial features associated with debris flow initiation, erosion, and deposition. On Earth, debris flows are often triggered by shallow subsurface throughflow of liquid water in slope-mantling colluvium. This flow causes increased levels of pore pressure and thus decreased shear strength, which can lead to slide failure of slope materiAuthorsNina L. Lanza, Grant A. Meyer, Chris Okubo, Horton E. Newsom, Roger C. WiensInverted channel deposits on the floor of Miyamoto crater, Mars
Morphological features on the western floor of Miyamoto crater in southwestern Meridiani Planum, Mars, are suggestive of past fluvial activity. Imagery from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) gives a detailed view of raised curvilinear features that appear to represent inverted paleochannel deposits. The inverted terrain appears to be capped with a resistant, dark-toned deposiAuthorsHorton E. Newsom, Nina L. Lanza, Ann M. Ollila, Sandra M. Wiseman, Ted L. Roush, Giuseppe A. Marzo, Livio L. Tornabene, Chris H. Okubo, Mikki M. Osterloo, Victoria E. Hamilton, Larry S. CrumplerGeomorphic knobs of Candor Chasma, Mars: New Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter data and comparisons to terrestrial analogs
High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) imagery and digital elevation models of the Candor Chasma region of Valles Marineris, Mars, reveal prominent and distinctive positive-relief knobs amidst light-toned layers. Three classifications of knobs, Types 1, 2, and 3, are distinguished from a combination of HiRISE and Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) images based on physical expresAuthorsMarjorie A. Chan, Jens Ormö, Scott L. Murchie, Chris Okubo, Goro Komatsu, James J. Wray, Patrick E. McGuire, James A. McGovernThe High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) during MRO's Primary Science Phase (PSP)
The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) acquired 8 terapixels of data in 9137 images of Mars between October 2006 and December 2008, covering ∼0.55% of the surface. Images are typically 5–6 km wide with 3-color coverage over the central 20% of the swath, and their scales usually range from 25 to 60 cm/pixel. Nine hundred and sixty stereo paiAuthorsAlfred S. McEwen, Maria E. Banks, Nicole Baugh, Kris J. Becker, Aaron Boyd, James W. Bergstrom, Ross A. Beyer, Edward Bortolini, Nathan T. Bridges, Shane Byrne, Bradford Castalia, Frank C. Chuang, Larry S. Crumpler, Ingrid J. Daubar, Alix K. Davatzes, Donald G. Deardorff, Alaina DeJong, W. Alan Delamere, Eldar Z. Noe Dobrea, Colin M. Dundas, Eric M. Eliason, Yisrael Espinoza, Audrie Fennema, Kathryn E. Fishbaugh, Terry Forrester, Paul E. Geissler, John A. Grant, Jennifer L. Griffes, John P. Grotzinger, Virginia C. Gulick, Candice J. Hansen, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Rodney Heyd, Windy L. Jaeger, Dean Jones, Bob Kanefsky, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Robert King, Randolph L. Kirk, Kelly J. Kolb, Jeffrey Lasco, Alexandra Lefort, Richard Leis, Kevin W. Lewis, Sara Martinez-Alonso, Sarah Mattson, Guy K. McArthur, Michael T. Mellon, Joannah Metz, Moses P. Milazzo, Ralph E. Milliken, Tahirih Motazedian, Chris Okubo, Albert Ortiz, Andrea J. Philippoff, Joseph Plassmann, Anjani Polit, Patrick S. Russell, Christian Schaller, Mindi L. Searls, Timothy Spriggs, Steve W. Squyres, Steven Tarr, Nicolas Thomas, Bradley J. Thomson, Livio L. Tornabene, Charlie Van Houten, Circe Verba, Catherine M. Weitz, James J. WrayCoregistration of Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) topography with high-resolution Mars images
Spacecraft continue to send back extraordinary amounts of data from Mars leaving scientists with the considerable task of analyzing an ever-increasing wealth of information. There are abundant uses for coregistered topography and images, but coregistering various datasets can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. We have developed a set of C-shell Unix scripts and Interactive Data Language (IDL)AuthorsKelly J. Kolb, Chris H. OkuboShallow radar (SHARAD) sounding observations of the Medusae Fossae Formation, Mars
The SHARAD (shallow radar) sounding radar on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter detects subsurface reflections in the eastern and western parts of the Medusae Fossae Formation (MFF). The radar waves penetrate up to 580 m of the MFF and detect clear subsurface interfaces in two locations: west MFF between 150 and 155° E and east MFF between 209 and 213° E. Analysis of SHARAD radargrams suggests that tAuthorsLynn M. Carter, Bruce A. Campbell, Thomas R. Watters, Roger J. Phillips, Nathaniel E. Putzig, Ali Safaeinili, Jeffrey J. Plaut, Chris Okubo, Anthony F. Egan, Roberto Seu, Daniela Biccari, Roberto OroseiDeformation band clusters on Mars and implications for subsurface fluid flow
High-resolution imagery reveals unprecedented lines of evidence for the presence of deformation band clusters in layered sedimentary deposits in the equatorial region of Mars. Deformation bands are a class of geologic structural discontinuity that is a precursor to faults in clastic rocks and soils. Clusters of deformation bands, consisting of many hundreds of individual subparallel bands, can actAuthorsChris Okubo, Richard A. Schultz, Marjorie A. Chan, Goro KomatsuDielectric properties of lava flows west of Ascraeus Mons, Mars
The SHARAD instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter detects subsurface interfaces beneath lava flow fields northwest of Ascraeus Mons. The interfaces occur in two locations; a northern flow that originates south of Alba Patera, and a southern flow that originates at the rift zone between Ascraeus and Pavonis Montes. The northern flow has permittivity values, estimated from the time delay of eAuthorsLynn M. Carter, Bruce A. Campbell, John W. Holt, Roger J. Phillips, Nathaniel E. Putzig, Stefania Mattei, Roberto Seu, Chris H. Okubo, Anthony F. EganRelative age of interior layered deposits in southwest Candor Chasma based on high-resolution structural mapping
High‐resolution topography generated from stereo HiRISE (High‐Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) imagery reveals the meter‐scale structure of interior layered deposits (ILD) in southwest Candor Chasma. This study seeks to determine the age of the local ILD relative to any normal faults that can be attributed to chasma formation. The study area is located near the contact of these ILD and the wAuthorsChris H. Okubo, Kevin W. Lewis, Alfred S. McEwen, Randolph L. Kirk - News
*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