"Learning Science Through Research"

Keck Geology Consortium

Undergraduate Sophomore Research Project

Mars 2000 :
An Integrated Regional Geological Study on Mars

June 7th - July 9th
2000
at the Geodynamics Branch,
Goddard Space Flight Center

Eric Grosfils (Project Director), Pomona College, CA
Susan Sakimoto (Project Faculty), USRA at 921, NASA/GSFC
Carl Mendelson (Project Faculty), Beloit College, CA
Jacob Bleacher (Project RA), now attending ASU, AZ

High resolution altimetry and images returned by NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft are providing new opportunities to study the intriguing geology of Mars. With funding support from the W. M. Keck Foundation, National Science Foundation and the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) team, ten sophomore students spent nearly five weeks at the Goddard Space Flight Center's Geodynamics Branch, where they used these datasets to study a 14 by 19 degree portion of the Cerberus Plains region SE of Elysium Mons. The science objective of the project was to assess the geological suitability of the Cerberus Plains region as a potential landing site for a future Mars mission; however, this was not the only objective. An equally important goal was to provide the students with an intensive research experience early on in the course of their education, enabling them to test their desire to pursue a career in science.

Perspective view of Orcus Patera and Cerberus Plains (2x VE, Mars digital image mosaic over MOLA topographic data)

Five student teams studied different geological processes operating within the Cerberus Plains region. Their projects, described in detail below, include: a morphological study of Orcus Patera; careful topographic characterization of a subtle set of fluvial channels; examination of lava flows which occupy the fluvial channels in order to understand the eruption conditions; a study of wrinkle ridge morphology designed to constrain the details of the structural mechanism(s) responsible for the ridges' formation; and, a stratigraphic and crater dating assessment of relative and "absolute" ages for the main geological units defined within the study area.