This image was taken of the Martian surface by the NASA MSL rover on sol 4158, showing an assortment of clasts.
Lauren Edgar, Ph.D. (Former Employee)
Science and Products
Surface - Atmosphere interaction
The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on the interaction between planetary surfaces and the overlying atmospheres. In particular, the transfer of momentum (from wind), vapor (evaporation/sublimation), liquid (rainfall, percolation, infiltration) and solids (snow) occurs between surfaces and atmospheres.
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...
This image was taken of the Martian surface by the NASA MSL rover on sol 4158, showing an assortment of clasts.
NLB_764937797EDR_F1061524NCAM00277M_.jpeg
Image shows a poorly sorted collection of clasts, taken by the NASA Mars Curiosity rover on sol 4139.
Image shows a poorly sorted collection of clasts, taken by the NASA Mars Curiosity rover on sol 4139.
Filter Total Items: 41
On the importance of geological and geophysical lunar field work enabled by Artemis Base Camp On the importance of geological and geophysical lunar field work enabled by Artemis Base Camp
We report on six Findings related to the benefit of Artemis Base Camp (ABC) to lunar geoscience (Figure 1). These Findings are on the topics of 1) Repeat field site visits; 2) Geological experiments; 3) Satellite ABC campus(es); 4) Advanced lab equipment; 5) Frequent and resource-intensive EVAs; and 6) Geoscience STEM engagement. Lastly, we consider certain issues and caveats meriting...
Authors
K. Runyon, S. Buxner, K. Crane, C. Crow, A. Douglass, Lauren Edgar, D. Eppler, J.M. Hurtado, K. Rubins, M. Wagner
Paleo-scours within the layered sulfate-bearing unit at Gale crater, Mars: Evidence for intense wind erosion Paleo-scours within the layered sulfate-bearing unit at Gale crater, Mars: Evidence for intense wind erosion
The surface of modern Mars is largely shaped by wind, but the influence of past wind activity is less well constrained. Sedimentary rocks exposed in the lower foothills of Aeolis Mons, the central mound within Gale crater, record a transition from predominantly lacustrine deposition in the Murray formation to aeolian deposition in the Mirador formation. Here, we report a series of...
Authors
A.L. Roberts, S. Gupta, S.G. Banhan, A. Cowart, Lauren Edgar, W. Rapin, W.E. Dietrich, E.S. Kite, J.M. Davis, G. Caravaca, C.A. Mondro, P.J. Gasda, J.R. Johnson, S. Le Mouelic, D.M. Fey, A.B. Bryk, G. Paar, R.A. Harris, A. Fraeman, A.R. Vasavada
Pediment formation and subsequent erosion in Gale crater: Clues to the climate history of Mars Pediment formation and subsequent erosion in Gale crater: Clues to the climate history of Mars
Evidence of paleo-rivers, fans, deltas, lakes, and channel networks across Mars has prompted much debate about what climate conditions would permit the formation of these surface water derived features. Pediments, gently sloping erosional surfaces of low relief developed in bedrock, have also been identified on Mars. On Earth, these erosional landforms, often thought to be created by...
Authors
A.B. Bryk, W.E. Dietrich, Kristen Bennett, V.K. Fox, C.M. Fedo, M.P. Lamb, E.S. Kite, L.M. Thompson, S. Banham, J. Schieber, J.A. Grant, A.R. Vasavada, A.A. Fraeman, Lauren Edgar, P. J. Gasda, R.C. Wiens, J.P. Grotzinger, K. Stack-Morgan, R.E. Arvidson, O. Gasnault, S. Le Mouelic, S. Gupta, R.M.E. Williams, R.Y. Sheppard, K.W. Lewis, D.M. Rubin, W. Rapin, M.N. Hughes, M. Turner, S.A. Wilson, J.M. Davis, R.E. Kronyak, L. Le Deit, L.C. Kah, J. Frydenvang, R.J. Sullivan, C.C. Bedford, E. Dehouck, H.E. Newsom, M.C. Malin
Wave ripples formed in ancient, ice-free lakes in Gale crater, Mars Wave ripples formed in ancient, ice-free lakes in Gale crater, Mars
Symmetrical wave ripples identified with NASA’s Curiosity rover in ancient lake deposits at Gale crater provide a key paleoclimate constraint for early Mars: At the time of ripple formation, climate conditions must have supported ice-free liquid water on the surface of Mars. These features are the most definitive examples of wave ripples on another planet. The ripples occur in two...
Authors
C.A. Mondro, C.M. Fedo, J.P. Grotzinger, Michael Lamb, S. Gupta, W.E. Dietrich, S. Banham, C.M. Weitz, P. Gasda, Lauren Edgar, D. Rubin, A.B. Bryk, E.S. Kite, G. Caravaca, J. Schieber, A.R. Vasavada
Global survey of paleo-bedforms on Mars Global survey of paleo-bedforms on Mars
Sedimentary processes on Mars have contributed to a plethora of landforms, both ancient and modern. Many of these are aeolian- or fluvial-formed constructs that meet the morphologic criteria for dunes and ripples but are clearly lithified and part of the rock record. This study conducted a survey of Mars using data returned from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) to...
Authors
Matthew Chojnacki, Lori Fenton, Lauren Edgar, Mackenzie Day, Christopher S. Edwards, Aaron R Weintraub, Amber Gullikson, Matt Telfer
Assessing community needs for terrestrial analog studies Assessing community needs for terrestrial analog studies
Executive SummaryThe U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed and released a survey to assess the terrestrial analog needs of the planetary science community. The goal was to assess the current state of terrestrial analog studies and determine community needs related to the use of field sites for training and research, data dissemination and archiving, and sample collections.The survey...
Authors
Lauren Edgar, M. Rumpf, Skinner, Amber Gullikson, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Marc Hunter, Tenielle Gaither
A novel surface energy balance method for thermal inertia studies of terrestrial analogs A novel surface energy balance method for thermal inertia studies of terrestrial analogs
Surface thermal inertia derived from satellite imagery offers a valuable tool for remotely mapping the physical structure and water content of planetary regolith. Efforts to quantify thermal inertia using surface temperatures on Earth, however, have consistently yielded large uncertainties and suffered from a lack of reproducibility. Unlike dry or airless bodies, Earth's abundant water...
Authors
Ari Koeppel, Christopher S. Edwards, Lauren Edgar, Scott Nowicki, Kristen Bennett, Amber Gullikson, Sylvain Piqueux, Helen Eifert, Daphne Chapline, A. Deanne Rogers
Geological context and significance of the clay-sulfate transition region in Mount Sharp, Gale crater, Mars: An integrated assessment based on orbiter and rover data Geological context and significance of the clay-sulfate transition region in Mount Sharp, Gale crater, Mars: An integrated assessment based on orbiter and rover data
On Mars, phyllosilicate (“clay”) minerals are often associated with older terrains, and sulfate minerals are associated with younger terrains, and this dichotomy is taken as evidence that Mars’ surface dried up over time. Therefore, in situ investigation of the Mount Sharp strata in Gale crater, which record a shift from dominantly clay-bearing to sulfate-bearing minerals, as seen in...
Authors
Melissa Meyer, Ralph Milliken, Kathryn Stack, Lauren Edgar, Elizabeth Rampe, Madison Turner, Kevin Lewis, Edwin Kite, Gwenael Caravaca, Ashwin Vasavada, William Dietrich, Alex Bryk, Olivier Gasnault, Stephane Le Mouelic, Christina Seeger, Rachel Sheppard
Evolution of a lake margin recorded in the Sutton Island member of the Murray formation, Gale crater, Mars Evolution of a lake margin recorded in the Sutton Island member of the Murray formation, Gale crater, Mars
This study uses data from the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover to document the facies of the Sutton Island member of the Murray formation, interpret paleoenvironments, and establish key stratigraphic transitions at Gale crater. Two facies associations were identified: Facies Association 1 (FA1) and Facies Association 2 (FA2). Individual facies in FA1 include planar-laminated...
Authors
Samantha Gwizd, Christopher Fedo, John Grotzinger, Steve Banham, Frances Rivera-Hernandez, Sanjeev Gupta, Kathryn Stack, Lauren Edgar, Ashwin Vasavada, Joel Davis, Linda Kah
Geology and stratigraphic correlation of the Murray and Carolyn Shoemaker formations across the Glen Torridon region, Gale crater, Mars Geology and stratigraphic correlation of the Murray and Carolyn Shoemaker formations across the Glen Torridon region, Gale crater, Mars
The Glen Torridon (GT) region within Gale crater, Mars, occurs in contact with the southern side of Vera Rubin ridge (VRR), a well-defined geomorphic feature that is comparatively resistant to erosion. Prior to detailed ground-based investigation of GT, its geologic relationship with VRR was unknown. Distinct lithologic subunits within the Jura member (Murray formation), which forms the...
Authors
Christopher Fedo, Alexander Bryk, Lauren Edgar, Kristen Bennett, Valerie Fox, William Dietrich, Steve Banham, Sanjeev Gupta, Kathryn Stack, Rebecca Williams, John Grotzinger, Nathan Stein, Dave Rubin, Gwenael Caravaca, Ray Arvidson, Madison Hughes, Abigail Fraeman, Ashwin Vasavada, Juergen Schieber, Brad Sutter
Sedimentological and geochemical perspectives on a marginal lake environment recorded in the Hartmann’s Valley and Karasburg members of the Murray formation, Gale crater, Mars Sedimentological and geochemical perspectives on a marginal lake environment recorded in the Hartmann’s Valley and Karasburg members of the Murray formation, Gale crater, Mars
This study utilizes instruments from the Curiosity rover payload to develop an integrated paleoenvironmental and compositional reconstruction for the 65-m thick interval of stratigraphy comprising the Hartmann's Valley and Karasburg members of the Murray formation, Gale crater, Mars. The stratigraphy consists of cross-stratified sandstone (Facies 1), planar-laminated sandstone (Facies 2)...
Authors
Samantha Gwizd, Christopher Fedo, John Grotzinger, Steven Banham, Frances Rivera-Hernandez, Kathryn Stack, Kirsten Siebach, Michael Thorpe, Lucy Thompson, Catherine O’Connell-Cooper, Nathan Stein, Lauren Edgar, Sanjeev Gupta, David Rubin, Dawn Sumner, Ashwin Vasavada
Thermophysical and compositional properties of paleobedforms on Mars Thermophysical and compositional properties of paleobedforms on Mars
Bedforms on Earth and Mars are often preserved in the rock record in the form of sedimentary rock with distinct cross-bedding. On rare occasions, the full-surface geometry of a bedform can be preserved through burial and lithification. These features, known as paleobedforms, are found in a variety of geographic locations on Mars. Evidence in the morphology of paleobedforms, such as the...
Authors
Aaron Weintraub, Christopher S. Edwards, Matthew Chojnacki, Lauren Edgar, Lori Fenton, Sylvain Piqueux, Amber Gullikson
Science and Products
Surface - Atmosphere interaction
The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on the interaction between planetary surfaces and the overlying atmospheres. In particular, the transfer of momentum (from wind), vapor (evaporation/sublimation), liquid (rainfall, percolation, infiltration) and solids (snow) occurs between surfaces and atmospheres.
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...
MSL image of the Martian Surface on sol 4158
This image was taken of the Martian surface by the NASA MSL rover on sol 4158, showing an assortment of clasts.
This image was taken of the Martian surface by the NASA MSL rover on sol 4158, showing an assortment of clasts.
NLB_764937797EDR_F1061524NCAM00277M_.jpeg
Image shows a poorly sorted collection of clasts, taken by the NASA Mars Curiosity rover on sol 4139.
Image shows a poorly sorted collection of clasts, taken by the NASA Mars Curiosity rover on sol 4139.
Filter Total Items: 41
On the importance of geological and geophysical lunar field work enabled by Artemis Base Camp On the importance of geological and geophysical lunar field work enabled by Artemis Base Camp
We report on six Findings related to the benefit of Artemis Base Camp (ABC) to lunar geoscience (Figure 1). These Findings are on the topics of 1) Repeat field site visits; 2) Geological experiments; 3) Satellite ABC campus(es); 4) Advanced lab equipment; 5) Frequent and resource-intensive EVAs; and 6) Geoscience STEM engagement. Lastly, we consider certain issues and caveats meriting...
Authors
K. Runyon, S. Buxner, K. Crane, C. Crow, A. Douglass, Lauren Edgar, D. Eppler, J.M. Hurtado, K. Rubins, M. Wagner
Paleo-scours within the layered sulfate-bearing unit at Gale crater, Mars: Evidence for intense wind erosion Paleo-scours within the layered sulfate-bearing unit at Gale crater, Mars: Evidence for intense wind erosion
The surface of modern Mars is largely shaped by wind, but the influence of past wind activity is less well constrained. Sedimentary rocks exposed in the lower foothills of Aeolis Mons, the central mound within Gale crater, record a transition from predominantly lacustrine deposition in the Murray formation to aeolian deposition in the Mirador formation. Here, we report a series of...
Authors
A.L. Roberts, S. Gupta, S.G. Banhan, A. Cowart, Lauren Edgar, W. Rapin, W.E. Dietrich, E.S. Kite, J.M. Davis, G. Caravaca, C.A. Mondro, P.J. Gasda, J.R. Johnson, S. Le Mouelic, D.M. Fey, A.B. Bryk, G. Paar, R.A. Harris, A. Fraeman, A.R. Vasavada
Pediment formation and subsequent erosion in Gale crater: Clues to the climate history of Mars Pediment formation and subsequent erosion in Gale crater: Clues to the climate history of Mars
Evidence of paleo-rivers, fans, deltas, lakes, and channel networks across Mars has prompted much debate about what climate conditions would permit the formation of these surface water derived features. Pediments, gently sloping erosional surfaces of low relief developed in bedrock, have also been identified on Mars. On Earth, these erosional landforms, often thought to be created by...
Authors
A.B. Bryk, W.E. Dietrich, Kristen Bennett, V.K. Fox, C.M. Fedo, M.P. Lamb, E.S. Kite, L.M. Thompson, S. Banham, J. Schieber, J.A. Grant, A.R. Vasavada, A.A. Fraeman, Lauren Edgar, P. J. Gasda, R.C. Wiens, J.P. Grotzinger, K. Stack-Morgan, R.E. Arvidson, O. Gasnault, S. Le Mouelic, S. Gupta, R.M.E. Williams, R.Y. Sheppard, K.W. Lewis, D.M. Rubin, W. Rapin, M.N. Hughes, M. Turner, S.A. Wilson, J.M. Davis, R.E. Kronyak, L. Le Deit, L.C. Kah, J. Frydenvang, R.J. Sullivan, C.C. Bedford, E. Dehouck, H.E. Newsom, M.C. Malin
Wave ripples formed in ancient, ice-free lakes in Gale crater, Mars Wave ripples formed in ancient, ice-free lakes in Gale crater, Mars
Symmetrical wave ripples identified with NASA’s Curiosity rover in ancient lake deposits at Gale crater provide a key paleoclimate constraint for early Mars: At the time of ripple formation, climate conditions must have supported ice-free liquid water on the surface of Mars. These features are the most definitive examples of wave ripples on another planet. The ripples occur in two...
Authors
C.A. Mondro, C.M. Fedo, J.P. Grotzinger, Michael Lamb, S. Gupta, W.E. Dietrich, S. Banham, C.M. Weitz, P. Gasda, Lauren Edgar, D. Rubin, A.B. Bryk, E.S. Kite, G. Caravaca, J. Schieber, A.R. Vasavada
Global survey of paleo-bedforms on Mars Global survey of paleo-bedforms on Mars
Sedimentary processes on Mars have contributed to a plethora of landforms, both ancient and modern. Many of these are aeolian- or fluvial-formed constructs that meet the morphologic criteria for dunes and ripples but are clearly lithified and part of the rock record. This study conducted a survey of Mars using data returned from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) to...
Authors
Matthew Chojnacki, Lori Fenton, Lauren Edgar, Mackenzie Day, Christopher S. Edwards, Aaron R Weintraub, Amber Gullikson, Matt Telfer
Assessing community needs for terrestrial analog studies Assessing community needs for terrestrial analog studies
Executive SummaryThe U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed and released a survey to assess the terrestrial analog needs of the planetary science community. The goal was to assess the current state of terrestrial analog studies and determine community needs related to the use of field sites for training and research, data dissemination and archiving, and sample collections.The survey...
Authors
Lauren Edgar, M. Rumpf, Skinner, Amber Gullikson, Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Marc Hunter, Tenielle Gaither
A novel surface energy balance method for thermal inertia studies of terrestrial analogs A novel surface energy balance method for thermal inertia studies of terrestrial analogs
Surface thermal inertia derived from satellite imagery offers a valuable tool for remotely mapping the physical structure and water content of planetary regolith. Efforts to quantify thermal inertia using surface temperatures on Earth, however, have consistently yielded large uncertainties and suffered from a lack of reproducibility. Unlike dry or airless bodies, Earth's abundant water...
Authors
Ari Koeppel, Christopher S. Edwards, Lauren Edgar, Scott Nowicki, Kristen Bennett, Amber Gullikson, Sylvain Piqueux, Helen Eifert, Daphne Chapline, A. Deanne Rogers
Geological context and significance of the clay-sulfate transition region in Mount Sharp, Gale crater, Mars: An integrated assessment based on orbiter and rover data Geological context and significance of the clay-sulfate transition region in Mount Sharp, Gale crater, Mars: An integrated assessment based on orbiter and rover data
On Mars, phyllosilicate (“clay”) minerals are often associated with older terrains, and sulfate minerals are associated with younger terrains, and this dichotomy is taken as evidence that Mars’ surface dried up over time. Therefore, in situ investigation of the Mount Sharp strata in Gale crater, which record a shift from dominantly clay-bearing to sulfate-bearing minerals, as seen in...
Authors
Melissa Meyer, Ralph Milliken, Kathryn Stack, Lauren Edgar, Elizabeth Rampe, Madison Turner, Kevin Lewis, Edwin Kite, Gwenael Caravaca, Ashwin Vasavada, William Dietrich, Alex Bryk, Olivier Gasnault, Stephane Le Mouelic, Christina Seeger, Rachel Sheppard
Evolution of a lake margin recorded in the Sutton Island member of the Murray formation, Gale crater, Mars Evolution of a lake margin recorded in the Sutton Island member of the Murray formation, Gale crater, Mars
This study uses data from the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover to document the facies of the Sutton Island member of the Murray formation, interpret paleoenvironments, and establish key stratigraphic transitions at Gale crater. Two facies associations were identified: Facies Association 1 (FA1) and Facies Association 2 (FA2). Individual facies in FA1 include planar-laminated...
Authors
Samantha Gwizd, Christopher Fedo, John Grotzinger, Steve Banham, Frances Rivera-Hernandez, Sanjeev Gupta, Kathryn Stack, Lauren Edgar, Ashwin Vasavada, Joel Davis, Linda Kah
Geology and stratigraphic correlation of the Murray and Carolyn Shoemaker formations across the Glen Torridon region, Gale crater, Mars Geology and stratigraphic correlation of the Murray and Carolyn Shoemaker formations across the Glen Torridon region, Gale crater, Mars
The Glen Torridon (GT) region within Gale crater, Mars, occurs in contact with the southern side of Vera Rubin ridge (VRR), a well-defined geomorphic feature that is comparatively resistant to erosion. Prior to detailed ground-based investigation of GT, its geologic relationship with VRR was unknown. Distinct lithologic subunits within the Jura member (Murray formation), which forms the...
Authors
Christopher Fedo, Alexander Bryk, Lauren Edgar, Kristen Bennett, Valerie Fox, William Dietrich, Steve Banham, Sanjeev Gupta, Kathryn Stack, Rebecca Williams, John Grotzinger, Nathan Stein, Dave Rubin, Gwenael Caravaca, Ray Arvidson, Madison Hughes, Abigail Fraeman, Ashwin Vasavada, Juergen Schieber, Brad Sutter
Sedimentological and geochemical perspectives on a marginal lake environment recorded in the Hartmann’s Valley and Karasburg members of the Murray formation, Gale crater, Mars Sedimentological and geochemical perspectives on a marginal lake environment recorded in the Hartmann’s Valley and Karasburg members of the Murray formation, Gale crater, Mars
This study utilizes instruments from the Curiosity rover payload to develop an integrated paleoenvironmental and compositional reconstruction for the 65-m thick interval of stratigraphy comprising the Hartmann's Valley and Karasburg members of the Murray formation, Gale crater, Mars. The stratigraphy consists of cross-stratified sandstone (Facies 1), planar-laminated sandstone (Facies 2)...
Authors
Samantha Gwizd, Christopher Fedo, John Grotzinger, Steven Banham, Frances Rivera-Hernandez, Kathryn Stack, Kirsten Siebach, Michael Thorpe, Lucy Thompson, Catherine O’Connell-Cooper, Nathan Stein, Lauren Edgar, Sanjeev Gupta, David Rubin, Dawn Sumner, Ashwin Vasavada
Thermophysical and compositional properties of paleobedforms on Mars Thermophysical and compositional properties of paleobedforms on Mars
Bedforms on Earth and Mars are often preserved in the rock record in the form of sedimentary rock with distinct cross-bedding. On rare occasions, the full-surface geometry of a bedform can be preserved through burial and lithification. These features, known as paleobedforms, are found in a variety of geographic locations on Mars. Evidence in the morphology of paleobedforms, such as the...
Authors
Aaron Weintraub, Christopher S. Edwards, Matthew Chojnacki, Lauren Edgar, Lori Fenton, Sylvain Piqueux, Amber Gullikson