Mars

We present investigations of the interactions between surface dust reservoirs on Mars and the observed Martian dust cycle. Both observational and numerical modeling techniques are utilized to study the effects of surface dust reservoirs on the Martian dust cycle, the evolution o…

Techniques were developed to calculate thermal inertia values from high-resolution orbital data and surface measurements and to better understand the geologic and climatic history of localities on Mars. Thermal inertia values were derived from Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Spect…

The subject of this dissertation is the mechanisms of erosion on the Mars, with a specific focus on the timing, nature, and evolution of valley networks. The first two chapters examine two specific regions where valley networks incise the surface: the shield volcano Ceraunius Th…

This thesis examines two distinct topics related to the long-term evolution of terrestrial planets. The first, dynamic topography, is the vertical motion of the Earth's tectonic plates in response to viscous stresses in the mantle driven by convective processes. Using mantle flo…