Research Interests
Pingos & hydrologic systems
Pingos are ice-cored hills that grow in permafrost conditions on the Earth. Pingo structure is not well understood. Thanks to spacecraft observations, we know there are similar looking features on Mars and Ceres. Ongoing research aims to better understand pingo formation and determine if these enigmatic alien hills are hydrologically related to pingos.
Permafrost environments are rapidly changing in high-latitude landscapes; ground ice loss is particularly prevalent. Current research aims to better constrain rates of ground ice loss in Arctic environments as well as the dynamic responses of permafrost landscapes using of topographic analyses and applied geophysics.
The topographic expressions of valleys, scarps, and cliffs are directly related to the structural and mechanical properties of the subsurface. This past research examined the mechanical and structural properties of Ceres below Nar Sulcus, a unique fracture system located within the Yalode crater.
Rock glaciers
Rock glaciers are mixtures of ice and rocky debris that flow downslope under their own weight similar to glaciers. As periglacial environments warm rock glacier ice melts and develops new drainage pathways, changing their kinematics and hydrologic outputs. Ongoing research aims to constrain these kinematic responses to climate change and better characterize rock glaciers as hydrologic systems.
Multi-spectral surface characterization
Aircraft- and space-based remote sensing are powerful tools for identifying and characterizing landforms. These methods are applied toward identifying and classifying periglacial hydrologic systems as well as natural hazard detection. Current research includes developing and advancing LiDAR, long-wavelength infrared, optical, and radar remote sensing techniques.
The geologic mapping campaign of Ceres produced the first global map of a dwarf planet in our solar system. Ongoing geomorphological mapping continues to reveal details about the fine-scale structure of this icy world's surface and provides vital context for understanding local to regional scale surface processes.
