Planetary Geoscience
Postdoctoral Research Associate at Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
My Research focuses on lithospheric processes and how they are represented by surface features. I have specific interest in how topography evolves due to thermal anomalies or its own weight, and the formation and evolution processes of volcanic features on planetary bodies. I use GIS, statistical and spherical harmonic analysis, and numerical models to link surface observations to geodynamical processes.
Research Interests
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Venus Volcanic Features
Coronae are volcano-tectonic features only found on the surface of Venus. There are many unknowns about the formation and evolution of corona. Radar images from orbiting satellites allows for a glimpse through the thick cloud layers to uncover the surface processes related to these enigmatic features.
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Geospatial Analysis
There are many ways to analyze the distribution of features on the surface of a planet. I use classic spatial statistics, such as kernel and point density, along with other techniques like spherical harmonic analysis and lacunarity to gain insight into the geodynamical processes related to surface features.
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Topographic Loading and Support
Ocean moons have topography on their surfaces that can be used to estimate the thickness of their ice shells. The nature of ice shells, including the location of the lithosphere and the basal phase change, prevents approaches used on terrestrial planets from being applied. I use finite element modeling to assess the scale of topography that can be supported by ice shells on ocean worlds.
