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Dundas CM, Becerra P, Byrne S, Chojnacki M, Daubar IJ, Diniega S, Hansen CJ, Herkenhoff KE, Landis ME, McEwen AS, Portyankina G, Valantinas A. Active Mars: A Dynamic World. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. PLANETS 2021; 126:e2021JE006876. [PMID: 35845553 PMCID: PMC9285055 DOI: 10.1029/2021je006876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mars exhibits diverse surface changes at all latitudes and all seasons. Active processes include impact cratering, aeolian sand and dust transport, a variety of slope processes, changes in polar ices, and diverse effects of seasonal CO2 frost. The extent of surface change has been surprising and indicates that the present climate is capable of reshaping the surface. Activity has important implications for the Amazonian history of Mars: understanding processes is a necessary step before we can understand their implications and variations over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M. Dundas
- U.S. Geological SurveyAstrogeology Science CenterFlagstaffAZUSA
| | | | - Shane Byrne
- Lunar and Planetary LaboratoryUniversity of ArizonaTucsonAZUSA
| | | | - Ingrid J. Daubar
- Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary SciencesBrown UniversityProvidenceRIUSA
| | - Serina Diniega
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | | | | | - Margaret E. Landis
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsUniversity of ColoradoBoulderCOUSA
| | | | - Ganna Portyankina
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsUniversity of ColoradoBoulderCOUSA
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2
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The Preliminary Study of Dust Devil Tracks in Southern Utopia Planitia, Landing Area of Tianwen-1 Mission. REMOTE SENSING 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/rs13132601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
China’s first Mars exploration mission (Tianwen-1) landed on the southern part of Mars’ Utopia Planitia on 15 May 2021. The Zhurong rover will focus on high-resolution and in situ observations of key areas on the surface of Mars. Dust devils (DDs) are heat-driven vortices that lift material from the surface and inject it into the atmosphere. The dark or bright surface lineaments left by DDs are called dust devil tracks (DDTs). Dust devils can clear dust from solar panels deposited by gusts and dust storms. Therefore, it is of importance to study the encounter rates of dust devils at the Tianwen-1 landing site for achieving the rover’s long-term scientific goals. Based on High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) and Context Camera (CTX) images, 248 newly formed DDTs in 12 image pairs were firstly identified, and their lengths, widths, and direction in the study area were measured. The distribution of their width frequency follows a −2 differential power law. Secondly, DDT formation rates were computed and analyzed with the range of 0.00006 to 0.1275 ddt km−2 sol−1, mainly affected by factors such as seasons and dust storm occurrence. Thirdly, the solar panel clearing recurrence interval derived from the orbital data in our study area was calculated from ~980 to 166,700 sols. The dust storm occurrence probability at the Tianwen-1 landing area is less than 3%, and there is a special anti-dust coating on board the Zhurong rover. Thus, the Zhurong rover can be considered competent for scientific exploration.
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Abstract
Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL) on Mars have been enigmatic since their discovery; their behavior resembles a seeping liquid but sources of water remain puzzling. This work demonstrates that the properties of RSL are consistent with observed behaviors of Martian and terrestrial aeolian processes. Specifically, RSL are well-explained as flows of sand that remove a thin coating of dust. Observed RSL properties are supportive of or consistent with this model, which requires no liquid water or other exotic processes, but rather indicates seasonal aeolian behavior. These settings and behaviors resemble features observed by rovers and also explain the occurrence of many slope lineae on Mars that do not meet the strict definition of RSL. This indicates that RSL can be explained simply as aeolian features. Other processes may add complexities just as they could modify the behavior of any sand dune.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M. Dundas
- U.S. Geological Survey, Astrogeology Science Center, 2255 N. Gemini Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
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Raack J, Reiss D, Balme MR, Taj-Eddine K, Ori GG. In Situ Sampling of Relative Dust Devil Particle Loads and Their Vertical Grain Size Distributions. ASTROBIOLOGY 2018; 18:1305-1317. [PMID: 28422534 PMCID: PMC6205092 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2016.1544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
During a field campaign in the Sahara Desert in southern Morocco, spring 2012, we sampled the vertical grain size distribution of two active dust devils that exhibited different dimensions and intensities. With these in situ samples of grains in the vortices, it was possible to derive detailed vertical grain size distributions and measurements of the lifted relative particle load. Measurements of the two dust devils show that the majority of all lifted particles were only lifted within the first meter (∼46.5% and ∼61% of all particles; ∼76.5 wt % and ∼89 wt % of the relative particle load). Furthermore, ∼69% and ∼82% of all lifted sand grains occurred in the first meter of the dust devils, indicating the occurrence of "sand skirts." Both sampled dust devils were relatively small (∼15 m and ∼4-5 m in diameter) compared to dust devils in surrounding regions; nevertheless, measurements show that ∼58.5% to 73.5% of all lifted particles were small enough to go into suspension (<31 μm, depending on the used grain size classification). This relatively high amount represents only ∼0.05 to 0.15 wt % of the lifted particle load. Larger dust devils probably entrain larger amounts of fine-grained material into the atmosphere, which can have an influence on the climate. Furthermore, our results indicate that the composition of the surface, on which the dust devils evolved, also had an influence on the particle load composition of the dust devil vortices. The internal particle load structure of both sampled dust devils was comparable related to their vertical grain size distribution and relative particle load, although both dust devils differed in their dimensions and intensities. A general trend of decreasing grain sizes with height was also detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Raack
- School of Physical Science, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM), The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Dennis Reiss
- Institut für Planetologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Matthew R. Balme
- School of Physical Science, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM), The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Kamal Taj-Eddine
- Géologie et Géoinformatique, Faculté des Sciences Semlalia, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco
- Ibn Battuta Centre, Faculté des Sciences Semlalia, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Gian Gabriele Ori
- Ibn Battuta Centre, Faculté des Sciences Semlalia, Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, Morocco
- International Research School of Planetary Sciences, Università “G. D'Annunzio”, Pescara, Italy
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Curtis-Harper E, Pearson VK, Summers S, Bridges JC, Schwenzer SP, Olsson-Francis K. The Microbial Community of a Terrestrial Anoxic Inter-Tidal Zone: A Model for Laboratory-Based Studies of Potentially Habitable Ancient Lacustrine Systems on Mars. Microorganisms 2018; 6:microorganisms6030061. [PMID: 29966361 PMCID: PMC6165429 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms6030061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence indicates that Gale crater on Mars harboured a fluvio-lacustrine environment that was subjected to physio-chemical variations such as changes in redox conditions and evaporation with salinity changes, over time. Microbial communities from terrestrial environmental analogues sites are important for studying such potential habitability environments on early Mars, especially in laboratory-based simulation experiments. Traditionally, such studies have predominantly focused on microorganisms from extreme terrestrial environments. These are applicable to a range of Martian environments; however, they lack relevance to the lacustrine systems. In this study, we characterise an anoxic inter-tidal zone as a terrestrial analogue for the Gale crater lake system according to its chemical and physical properties, and its microbiological community. The sub-surface inter-tidal environment of the River Dee estuary, United Kingdom (53°21′15.40″ N, 3°10′24.95″ W) was selected and compared with available data from Early Hesperian-time Gale crater, and temperature, redox, and pH were similar. Compared to subsurface ‘groundwater’-type fluids invoked for the Gale subsurface, salinity was higher at the River Dee site, which are more comparable to increases in salinity that likely occurred as the Gale crater lake evolved. Similarities in clay abundance indicated similar access to, specifically, the bio-essential elements Mg, Fe and K. The River Dee microbial community consisted of taxa that were known to have members that could utilise chemolithoautotrophic and chemoorganoheterotrophic metabolism and such a mixed metabolic capability would potentially have been feasible on Mars. Microorganisms isolated from the site were able to grow under environment conditions that, based on mineralogical data, were similar to that of the Gale crater’s aqueous environment at Yellowknife Bay. Thus, the results from this study suggest that the microbial community from an anoxic inter-tidal zone is a plausible terrestrial analogue for studying habitability of fluvio-lacustrine systems on early Mars, using laboratory-based simulation experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliot Curtis-Harper
- Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK.
| | - Victoria K Pearson
- Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK.
| | - Stephen Summers
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, 637551 Singapore, Singapore.
| | - John C Bridges
- Space Research Centre, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK.
| | - Susanne P Schwenzer
- Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK.
| | - Karen Olsson-Francis
- Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK.
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Greeley R, Waller DA, Cabrol NA, Landis GA, Lemmon MT, Neakrase LDV, Pendleton Hoffer M, Thompson SD, Whelley PL. Gusev Crater, Mars: Observations of three dust devil seasons. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2010je003608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Ellehoj MD, Gunnlaugsson HP, Taylor PA, Kahanpää H, Bean KM, Cantor BA, Gheynani BT, Drube L, Fisher D, Harri AM, Holstein-Rathlou C, Lemmon MT, Madsen MB, Malin MC, Polkko J, Smith PH, Tamppari LK, Weng W, Whiteway J. Convective vortices and dust devils at the Phoenix Mars mission landing site. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2009je003413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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8
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Fergason RL, Christensen PR. Formation and erosion of layered materials: Geologic and dust cycle history of eastern Arabia Terra, Mars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2007je002973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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10
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Sullivan R, Arvidson R, Bell JF, Gellert R, Golombek M, Greeley R, Herkenhoff K, Johnson J, Thompson S, Whelley P, Wray J. Wind-driven particle mobility on Mars: Insights from Mars Exploration Rover observations at “El Dorado” and surroundings at Gusev Crater. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2008je003101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Bell JF, Rice MS, Johnson JR, Hare TM. Surface albedo observations at Gusev Crater and Meridiani Planum, Mars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2007je002976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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12
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Karunatillake S, Keller JM, Squyres SW, Boynton WV, Brückner J, Janes DM, Gasnault O, Newsom HE. Chemical compositions at Mars landing sites subject to Mars Odyssey Gamma Ray Spectrometer constraints. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - John M. Keller
- Physics Department; California Polytechnic State University; San Luis Obispo California USA
| | | | - William V. Boynton
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory; University of Arizona; Tucson Arizona USA
| | | | - Daniel M. Janes
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory; University of Arizona; Tucson Arizona USA
| | - Olivier Gasnault
- Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse; Toulouse France
| | - Horton E. Newsom
- Institute of Meteoritics and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque New Mexico USA
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13
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Malin MC, Bell JF, Cantor BA, Caplinger MA, Calvin WM, Clancy RT, Edgett KS, Edwards L, Haberle RM, James PB, Lee SW, Ravine MA, Thomas PC, Wolff MJ. Context Camera Investigation on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 805] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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14
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Greeley R, Whelley PL, Arvidson RE, Cabrol NA, Foley DJ, Franklin BJ, Geissler PG, Golombek MP, Kuzmin RO, Landis GA, Lemmon MT, Neakrase LDV, Squyres SW, Thompson SD. Active dust devils in Gusev crater, Mars: Observations from the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Greeley
- School of Earth and Space Exploration; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | - Patrick L. Whelley
- School of Earth and Space Exploration; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | - Raymond E. Arvidson
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; Washington University in St. Louis; St. Louis Missouri USA
| | | | - Daniel J. Foley
- School of Earth and Space Exploration; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | | | - Paul G. Geissler
- Astrogeology Program; U.S. Geological Survey; Flagstaff Arizona USA
| | | | | | | | - Mark T. Lemmon
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences; Texas A&M University; College Station Texas USA
| | - Lynn D. V. Neakrase
- School of Earth and Space Exploration; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | | | - Shane D. Thompson
- School of Earth and Space Exploration; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
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15
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Cantor BA, Kanak KM, Edgett KS. Mars Orbiter Camera observations of Martian dust devils and their tracks (September 1997 to January 2006) and evaluation of theoretical vortex models. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1029/2006je002700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Katharine M. Kanak
- Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies; University of Oklahoma; Norman Oklahoma USA
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16
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Golombek MP, Crumpler LS, Grant JA, Greeley R, Cabrol NA, Parker TJ, Rice JW, Ward JG, Arvidson RE, Moersch JE, Fergason RL, Christensen PR, Castaño A, Castaño R, Haldemann AFC, Li R, Bell JF, Squyres SW. Geology of the Gusev cratered plains from the Spirit rover transverse. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1029/2005je002503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. P. Golombek
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | - L. S. Crumpler
- New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science; Albuquerque New Mexico USA
| | | | - R. Greeley
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | - N. A. Cabrol
- NASA Ames Research Center; Moffett Field California USA
| | - T. J. Parker
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | - J. W. Rice
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | - J. G. Ward
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; Washington University; St. Louis Missouri USA
| | - R. E. Arvidson
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; Washington University; St. Louis Missouri USA
| | - J. E. Moersch
- Department of Geological Sciences; University of Tennessee; Knoxville Tennessee USA
| | - R. L. Fergason
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | - P. R. Christensen
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | - A. Castaño
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | - R. Castaño
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | - A. F. C. Haldemann
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | - R. Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science; Ohio State University; Columbus Ohio USA
| | - J. F. Bell
- Department of Astronomy; Cornell University; Ithaca New York USA
| | - S. W. Squyres
- Department of Astronomy; Cornell University; Ithaca New York USA
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17
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Greeley R, Arvidson RE, Barlett PW, Blaney D, Cabrol NA, Christensen PR, Fergason RL, Golombek MP, Landis GA, Lemmon MT, McLennan SM, Maki JN, Michaels T, Moersch JE, Neakrase LDV, Rafkin SCR, Richter L, Squyres SW, de Souza PA, Sullivan RJ, Thompson SD, Whelley PL. Gusev crater: Wind-related features and processes observed by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1029/2005je002491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Greeley
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | - R. E. Arvidson
- Earth and Planetary Sciences; Washington University; St. Louis Missouri USA
| | | | - Diana Blaney
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | - N. A. Cabrol
- NASA Ames Research Center; Moffett Field California USA
| | - P. R. Christensen
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | - R. L. Fergason
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | - M. P. Golombek
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | | | - M. T. Lemmon
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences; Texas A&M University; College Station Texas USA
| | - S. M. McLennan
- Department of Geosciences; State University of New York at Stony Brook; Stony Brook New York USA
| | - J. N. Maki
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA
| | | | - J. E. Moersch
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; University of Tennessee; Knoxville Tennessee USA
| | - L. D. V. Neakrase
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | | | - Lutz Richter
- Institut für Raumsimulation; Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; Cologne Germany
| | - S. W. Squyres
- Department of Astronomy; Cornell University; Ithaca New York USA
| | | | - R. J. Sullivan
- Department of Astronomy; Cornell University; Ithaca New York USA
| | - S. D. Thompson
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
| | - P. L. Whelley
- Department of Geological Sciences; Arizona State University; Tempe Arizona USA
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