Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
David G. Horvath, Jeffrey C. Andrews-Hanna
Summary: The central mound of Gale crater preserves a record of early Martian climatic, hydrologic, and sedimentary history, showing transitions from wetter to drier conditions. The models of the hydrological evolution at the crater provide insights into how the climate at Gale crater evolved. Short-term climate changes are crucial for explaining local variations in facies and mineralogy within the crater.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Timothy A. Goudge, Alexander M. Morgan, Gaia Stucky de Quay, Caleb Fassett
Summary: Lake breach flooding on early Mars significantly eroded a quarter of incised valleys, impacting the Martian landscape. The global importance of these floods in shaping valley systems highlights their role in the broader landscape evolution of Mars.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jacqueline Otto, Felicity A. Holmes, Nina Kirchner
Summary: This study presents recent changes in supraglacial lake distribution, expansion, drainage behavior, and frequency in Ryder Glacier, Northern Greenland, using remote sensing analysis. The results show that increasing global temperatures lead to inland expansion of supraglacial lakes and their impact on larger areas of the ice sheet. However, due to limited understanding of the dynamics of lake expansion, assessments of future implications remain uncertain.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Xiaojia Zeng, Yanxue Wu, Yuyan S. Zhao, Runlian Pang, Bing Mo, Yuanyun Wen, Xiongyao Li, Jianzhong Liu
Summary: This study provides the first microscale investigation of the morphology, texture, mineralogy, and geochemistry of martian high-manganese materials, revealing micron-sized grains, complex associated phases, and chemical heterogeneity. These findings offer new evidence and important information for understanding the geological processes of high-manganese materials on Mars and future in-situ exploration.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Allison M. Zastrow, Timothy D. Glotch
Summary: The Jezero crater on Mars, chosen as the landing site for the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, contains high abundances of phyllosilicates and carbonates. Spectral analysis revealed carbonate abundances up to 35% and identified three distinct units containing different carbonate phases. The diversity of carbonate phases in Jezero suggests multiple periods of carbonate formation under varying conditions.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eva L. Scheller, Joseph Razzell Hollis, Emily L. Cardarelli, Andrew Steele, Luther W. Beegle, Rohit Bhartia, Pamela Conrad, Kyle Uckert, Sunanda Sharma, Bethany L. Ehlmann, William J. Abbey, Sanford A. Asher, Kathleen C. Benison, Eve L. Berger, Olivier Beyssac, Benjamin L. Bleefeld, Tanja Bosak, Adrian J. Brown, Aaron S. Burton, Sergei V. Bykov, Ed Cloutis, Alberto G. Fairen, Lauren DeFlores, Kenneth A. Farley, Deidra M. Fey, Teresa Fornaro, Allison C. Fox, Marc Fries, Keyron Hickman-Lewis, William F. Hug, Joshua E. Huggett, Samara Imbeah, Ryan S. Jakubek, Linda C. Kah, Peter Kelemen, Megan R. Kennedy, Tanya Kizovski, Carina Lee, Yang Liu, Lucia Mandon, Francis M. McCubbin, Kelsey R. Moore, Brian E. Nixon, Jorge I. Nunez, Carolina Rodriguez Sanchez-Vahamonde, Ryan D. Roppel, Mitchell Schulte, Mark A. Sephton, Shiv K. Sharma, Sandra Siljestrom, Svetlana Shkolyar, David L. Shuster, Justin I. Simon, Rebecca J. Smith, Kathryn M. Stack, Kim Steadman, Benjamin P. Weiss, Alyssa Werynski, Amy J. Williams, Roger C. Wiens, Kenneth H. Williford, Kathrine Winchell, Brittan Wogsland, Anastasia Yanchilina, Rachel Yingling, Maria-Paz Zorzano
Summary: The Perseverance rover used the SHERLOC instrument to conduct deep-ultraviolet Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy on three rocks in the Jezero crater on Mars, revealing evidence of two distinct ancient aqueous environments at different times.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Farzana Shaheen, Mili Ghosh Nee Lala, A. P. Krishna
Summary: In this study, 154 craters in the Gale crater and surrounding region were analyzed using high resolution stereo camera DEM and Martian crater catalog data. The study revealed correlations between crater diameter, depth, and slope, as well as their relationship with crater degradation.
JOURNAL OF THE INDIAN SOCIETY OF REMOTE SENSING
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Saranya R. Chandran, S. James, J. Aswathi, Devika Padmakumar, T. Sadeeda Marjan, R. B. Binoj Kumar, Anil Chavan, Subhash Bhandari, K. S. Sajinkumar
Summary: As impact cratering is a fundamental process in modifying planetary surfaces, investigating and identifying terrestrial impact craters is crucial for understanding planetary evolution. Terrestrial impact craters, especially those in basaltic rocks, are considered as proxies for planetary explorations. The Lonar Impact Crater in India, carved in basaltic rocks, has been extensively studied and provides valuable insights into the characteristics of impact craters and the geological history of the planet. This review paper aims to gather information from various studies to enhance our understanding of the Lonar impact crater and impact cratering science in general.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christopher H. House, Gregory M. Wong, Christopher R. Webster, Gregory J. Flesch, Heather B. Franz, Jennifer C. Stern, Alex Pavlov, Sushil K. Atreya, Jennifer L. Eigenbrode, Alexis Gilbert, Amy E. Hofmann, Maeva Millan, Andrew Steele, Daniel P. Glavin, Charles A. Malespin, Paul R. Mahaffy
Summary: Obtaining carbon isotopic information from Martian sediments can help us understand the origin and cycling of carbon on Mars. The measurements of carbon isotopes in methane released during pyrolysis experiments at Gale crater show significant variations, with some values potentially linked to ancient surface. There are multiple possible explanations for the observed depleted 13C, but further research is needed to confirm them.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Geology
Joshua Ahmed, Jeffrey Peakall, Matthew R. Balme, Daniel R. Parsons
Summary: The study analyzes the formation conditions and evolution speed of Martian fluvial systems by comparing them with similar features on Earth. The results show that the Martian channels had high deposition rates and could form in less than a single Martian year or a few decades. It is suggested that the unique channel topography was created by a rapidly rising downstream water body triggered by external megafloods, such as breaches of crater lakes.
Article
Geology
Joshua Ahmed, Jeffrey Peakall, Matthew R. Balme, Daniel R. Parsons
Summary: This article examines a sequence of well-preserved inner-bank bar deposits in a multi-stacked sinuous fluvial ridge on Mars. The study reveals that the channels on Mars experienced rapid aggradation and formed at a much faster rate than their terrestrial counterparts. The unique channel topography is believed to be a result of a rising downstream water body triggered by external megafloods.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Claire E. Newman, Ricardo Hueso, Mark T. Lemmon, Asier Munguira, Alvaro Vicente-Retortillo, Victor Apestigue, German M. Martinez, Daniel Toledo, Rob Sullivan, Ken E. Herkenhoff, Manuel de la Torre Juarez, Mark I. Richardson, Alexander E. Stott, Naomi Murdoch, Agustin Sanchez-Lavega, Michael J. Wolff, Ignacio Arruego, Eduardo Sebastian, Sara Navarro, Javier Gomez-Elvira, Leslie Tamppari, Michael D. Smith, Alain Lepinette, Daniel Viudez-Moreiras, Ari-Matti Harri, Maria Genzer, Maria Hieta, Ralph D. Lorenz, Pan Conrad, Felipe Gomez, Timothy H. McConnochie, David Mimoun, Christian Tate, Tanguy Bertrand, James F. Bell, Justin N. Maki, Jose Antonio Rodriguez-Manfredi, Roger C. Wiens, Baptiste Chide, Sylvestre Maurice, Maria-Paz Zorzano, Luis Mora, Mariah M. Baker, Don Banfield, Jorge Pla-Garcia, Olivier Beyssac, Adrian Brown, Ben Clark, Franck Montmessin, Erik Fischer, Priyaben Patel, Teresa del Rio-Gaztelurrutia, Thierry Fouchet, Raymond Francis, Scott D. Guzewich
Summary: Despite the lack of in situ quantification for the processes of sand movement and dust raising on Mars, the Perseverance rover's environmental sensors and the dusty environment of Jezero crater provide a remedy to this problem. The rover observed convective vortices raising dust locally, with an average of four vortices passing by daily, and over 25% of them being significantly dusty. In addition, nonvortex wind gusts produced by daytime convection cells advected over the crater by strong regional daytime upslope winds were found to be capable of lifting considerable amounts of dust.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Roger C. Wiens, Arya Udry, Olivier Beyssac, Cathy Quantin-Nataf, Nicolas Mangold, Agnes Cousin, Lucia Mandon, Tanja Bosak, Olivier Forni, Scott M. McLennan, Violaine Sautter, Adrian Brown, Karim Benzerara, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Lisa Mayhew, Sylvestre Maurice, Ryan B. Anderson, Samuel M. Clegg, Larry Crumpler, Travis S. J. Gabriel, Patrick Gasda, James Hall, Briony H. N. Horgan, Linda Kah, Carey Legett, Juan Manuel Madariaga, Pierre-Yves Meslin, Ann M. Ollila, Francois Poulet, Clement Royer, Shiv K. Sharma, Sandra Siljestrom, Justin Simon, Tayro E. Acosta-Maeda, Cesar Alvarez-Llamas, S. Michael Angel, Gorka Arana, Pierre Beck, Sylvain Bernard, Tanguy Bertrand, Bruno Bousquet, Kepa Castro, Baptiste Chide, Elise Clave, Ed Cloutis, Stephanie Connell, Erwin Dehouck, Gilles Dromart, Woodward Fischer, Thierry Fouchet, Raymond Francis, Jens Frydenvang, Olivier Gasnault, Erin Gibbons, Sanjeev Gupta, Elisabeth M. Hausrath, Xavier Jacob, Hemani Kalucha, Evan Kelly, Elise Knutsen, Nina Lanza, Javier Laserna, Jeremie Lasue, Stephane Le Mouelic, Richard Leveille, Guillermo Lopez Reyes, Ralph Lorenz, Jose Antonio Manrique, Jesus Martinez-Frias, Tim McConnochie, Noureddine Melikechi, David Mimoun, Franck Montmessin, Javier Moros, Naomi Murdoch, Paolo Pilleri, Cedric Pilorget, Patrick Pinet, William Rapin, Fernando Rull, Susanne Schroder, David L. Shuster, Rebecca J. Smith, Alexander E. Stott, Jesse Tarnas, Nathalie Turenne, Marco Veneranda, David S. Vogt, Benjamin P. Weiss, Peter Willis, Kathryn M. Stack, Kenneth H. Williford, Kenneth A. Farley
Summary: The study reveals that the subsurface of Jezero crater is primarily composed of volcanic and intrusive terrains with compositional and density stratification. Basaltic rocks with higher plagioclase content are found in higher stratigraphic locations, while layered rocks with more normative pyroxene are found in lower stratigraphic layers. The lowest observed unit with the highest inferred density is olivine-rich and shows characteristics of cumulate origin. The presence of alteration materials suggests relatively brief lacustrine conditions. Orbital observations connect the lithology of the Jezero floor to the broader Nili-Syrtis region, indicating regional density-driven compositional stratification.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Emily R. Bamber, T. A. Goudge, C. Fassett, G. R. Osinski, G. Stucky de Quay
Summary: This study examines the factors that influence the formation of inlet valleys in degraded Martian craters. The researchers found that hydrologic factors related to basin hydrology play a more significant role than topographic factors in determining whether a crater possesses an inlet or not.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geology
Devon M. Burr, Christina E. Viviano, Timothy Michaels, Matthew Chojnacki, Robert E. Jacobsen
Summary: The origin of dark windblown sand on Mars, which has significant geologic effects, has been a question yet to be answered. Through comparisons and analyses, this study suggests that pyroclastic deposits are likely the primary source of the dark sand and this mechanism has been widespread throughout Martian history.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
P. D'Incecco, J. Filiberto, I. Lopez, D. A. Gorinov, G. Komatsu, A. Martynov, P. Pisarenko
Summary: Several new Venus mission concepts are being evaluated for final approval to analyze different aspects of the planet, such as its atmosphere, surface, and gravity anomalies. The debate between catastrophic and equilibrium resurfacing on Venus is ongoing, with recent studies suggesting ongoing volcanic and tectonic activity in certain areas. The proposal to target young volcanic rises, particularly Idunn Mons of Imdr Regio, for future investigations could provide insight into the planet's interior structure and the debate between different resurfacing processes.
SOLAR SYSTEM RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Masashi Watanabe, Kazuhisa Goto, Volker Roeber, Fumihiko Imamura
Summary: Tsunami and storm deposits are used to estimate inundation zones and frequency intervals of extreme waves, with factors such as topography slope being key in influencing the extent of inundation and inland distribution. The presence of onshore sediment sources is crucial for estimating the maximum extent of storm deposits. Parameters like grain size and wave height mainly control sediment deposit volume over land under tsunami and storm wave conditions.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ivan Lopez, Piero D'Incecco, Justin Filiberto, Goro Komatsu
Summary: Idunn Mons is a shield volcano on Venus that shows possible recent or ongoing volcanic activity. Geologic mapping reveals its similarities with oceanic island volcanoes on Earth, characterized by alternating volcanic construction phases and flank collapse events. The close spatial and temporal relationship between Idunn Mons and Olapa Chasma suggests that it is not only a candidate site for active volcanism but also for active tectonism.
JOURNAL OF VOLCANOLOGY AND GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Natsumi Noda, Shohei Yamashita, Yoshio Takahashi, Megumi Matsumoto, Yuma Enokido, Kana Amano, Takahiro Kawai, Hiroshi Sakuma, Keisuke Fukushi, Yasuhito Sekine, Tomoki Nakamura
Summary: Ferrous saponite, a secondary mineral, was analyzed without exposure to air and then reanalyzed after 10-18 hours of air exposure. The results showed that ferrous iron in saponite was partially oxidized after exposure to air, forming Fe(III)-rich micro-vein-like features. The study demonstrated rapid and heterogeneous oxidation of octahedral iron in ferrous saponite upon air exposure.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Trishit Ruj, Goro Komatsu, Kenji Kawai, Hanaya Okuda, Zhiyong Xiao, Deepak Dhingra
Summary: In this paper, we report 650 tracks of lunar boulders from the Finsen crater and assess the two main triggers for their origin, which are impact-induced seismicity and ground shaking from fault reactivation. Our findings suggest that both impact-induced ground shaking and fault movements can potentially initiate the movements of boulders.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Marco Emanuele Discenza, Mariacarmela Minnillo, Goro Komatsu, Enrico Miccadei
Summary: This study analyzed the morphological characteristics of a rampart crater on Mars, and used crater counting and crater size-frequency distribution to determine its age and identify multiple resurfacing events. The revised approach using Voronoi tessellation provided more precise age estimation in crater counting.
PLANETARY AND SPACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hiroki Shozaki, Yasuhito Sekine, Nicholas Guttenberg, Goro Komatsu
Summary: Using imagery machine learning, researchers have successfully recognized and classified Martian chaos terrain. They developed neural network models that can accurately distinguish chaos and non-chaos features, as well as classify different types of chaos blocks. The study identified two types of chaos terrain: hybrid chaos terrain and AHO-dominant chaos terrain. This research sheds light on the distribution and formation mechanisms of chaos terrain on Mars, and is important for further understanding Martian geological evolution and water activity.
Article
Geography, Physical
Sergey Arzhannikov, Anastasia Arzhannikova, Regis Braucher, Goro Komatsu
Summary: A combined geomorphological and geochronological investigation was conducted to determine the cause of Darhad paleolake formation and date the Darhad megaflood. New data obtained through analysis of satellite image mapping revealed the presence of glacial dams along the Shishkhid Gol valley. It is hypothesized that large glaciers downstream of the Tengis Gol mouth were the main contributors to the highest Shishkhid Gol backwater. The estimated height of the glacial dam was approximately 300 m. The presence of paleolake shorelines at an altitude of 1713 m near the glacial dam confirms its significant role in the formation of the Darhad paleolake.
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Trishit Ruj, Goro Komatsu, Gene Schmidt, Suniti Karunatillake, Kenji Kawai
Summary: This study identifies a series of extensional structures in the southern highlands of Mars that resemble continental rift zones on Earth, suggesting the presence of mantle plume activity and crustal stretching on Mars.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Feng Zhang, Alberto Pizzi, Trishit Ruj, Goro Komatsu, An Yin, Yanan Dang, Yang Liu, Yongliao Zou
Summary: Evidence on the Moon indicates a connection between contractional wrinkle ridges and basaltic volcanism. Most volcanic centers are associated with preexisting ring/rim faults. The study suggests that tectonic inversion creates a mechanism for magma transport during ridge faulting and folding. These findings reveal a more complex relationship between tectonics and volcanism on the Moon.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Petr Broz, Dorothy Oehler, Adriano Mazzini, Ernst Hauber, Goro Komatsu, Giuseppe Etiope, Vojtech Curin
Summary: Extensive sedimentary volcanism-like structures covering Martian lowlands have been compared to similar features on Earth, which involve subsurface sediment/fluid mobilisation and methane release. The presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere and potential astrobiological significance of such structures remains uncertain. This review summarises current knowledge, highlights the need for further research, and emphasizes the differences in dynamics and morphology between Earth and Mars.
EARTH SURFACE DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nori Miyake, Ryo Ishimaru, Goro Komatsu, Takafumi Matsui
Summary: The microbial communities of two active on-land mud volcanoes in central Japan were characterized. The study found dominant archaeal sequences affiliated with methanogens and anaerobic methanotrophs. Bacterial sequences related to Caldatribacteriota JS1 were recovered from both sites, and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) of Desulfobulbaceae were only found at one site. The study suggests that on-land mud volcanoes differ from submarine mud volcanoes in terms of sulfate concentration and sources, and further investigation is needed to determine the differences between the two sites.
INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
P. D'Incecco, J. Filiberto, I Lopez, D. A. Gorinov, G. Komatsu
Summary: In 2010, the ESA observed emissivity anomalies on Venus suggesting the presence of fresh volcanic deposits at Idunn Mons. Subsequent studies confirmed unaltered lava flows and laboratory experiments indicated rapid chemical weathering on Venus. Investigating atmospheric anomalies and tectonic fracturing, it is suggested that Idunn Mons may still be volcanically and tectonically active today.
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kosuke Kurosawa, Ryota Moriwaki, Hikaru Yabuta, Ko Ishibashi, Goro Komatsu, Takafumi Matsui
Summary: Impact experiments conducted at speeds comparable to those in the main asteroid belt suggest that volatile loss from asteroid Ryugu is not solely caused by heating from hypervelocity impacts, indicating that additional processes beyond mutual collisions may be responsible for the variable volatile contents of carbonaceous asteroids.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
