EAPS MIT

Jeffrey C. Andrews-Hanna

Research

Mangala Valles
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I use of a combination of numerical modeling and geomorphology to understand the interaction of a variety of processes responsible for shaping the surfaces of Mars and the terrestrial planets. I’m particularly interested in the interaction of geodynamic, tectonic, volcanic, climatic, and hydrologic processes at a variety of scales. Much of my research is focused in two main areas: processes involving liquid water on and beneath the surface of Mars, and the tectonic and geodynamic evolution of Mars.

For a list of references with reprints, click here

A brief discussion of some of my individual research projects follows.

**click on the images for more information on individual projects
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Meridiani Meridiani Planum: The MER Opportunity rover has found evidence for evaporites at Meridiani. I am using global scale hydrological models to understand the origin of these deposits and their implications for the history of water and climate on Mars.
strikeslip Strike-slip faults on Mars: I have mapped a new population of ancient strike-slip faults on Mars and used them to shed light on the thermal and tectonic evolution of the planet.
dichotomy Martian hemispheric dichotomy: I am investigating the possibility that the dichotomy between the southern highlands and northern lowlands may have been the result of a giant impact.
South Pole Mars south polar cap density: I am using a combination of MOLA topography, gravity data from the MRO spacecraft, and radar sounding from MARSIS to calculate the density of the south polar layered deposits on Mars.
Hellas Giant impact basins: The surfaces of Mars and the Moon are marred by several giant impact basins, including Hellas, Utopia, and the South Pole-Aitken basin. I am investigating why the largest basins are all elliptical rather than circular.
Meteor Crater Planetary anolog field sites: I have been to a number of field sites on the Earth that serve as analogs to features observed on the terrestrial planets. These include trips to Meteor Crater (shown), Hawai'i, and the Channeled Scablands of eastern Washington state.
chaos Repeating floods from chaos: Many of the martian outflow channels originate in regions of disrupted ground called "chaos regions". I have used numerical modeling to show that these floods would likely have been periodic.
Mangala Earthquake-triggered floods on Mars: Several Martian outflow channels originate within tectonic features (including Mangala and Athabasca Valles). I have demonstrated that the tectonism itself could have pressurized the aquifers and directly caused the flooding.
graph Climate change and hydrology: It has been suggested that dramatic changes in the Martian climate could have triggered the outflow channel floods. In modeling this process I have found that the required pore pressures and flood volumes could not likely be produced by this mechanism alone.

Publications and Presentations

Peer-reviewed

Presentations and abstracts

  • J.C. Andrews-Hanna, M.T. Zuber, and W.B. Banerdt, "The Martian dichotomy: An elliptical impact basin?", 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract #1980, 2008.
  • J.C. Andrews-Hanna, M.T. Zuber, and R.J. Phillips, "Early Mars hydrology: Valley networks and evaporites", 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract #1993, 2008.
  • A.J. Evans, J.C. Andrews-Hanna, and M.T. Zuber, "Lithospheric flexure as a consequence of possible erosion in Arabia Terra, Mars", 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract #1214, 2008.
  • S.M. Wiseman, R.E. Arvidson, S. Murchie, F. Poulet, J.C. Andrews-Hanna, R.V. Morris, F.P. Seelos, and the CRISM Team, "Phyllosilicate and hydrated sulfate deposits in Meridiani", 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract #1806, 2008.
  • K.A. Lichtenberg, R.E. Arvidson, S. Murchie, L.H. Roach, J.C. Andrews-Hanna, E. Noe Dobrea, and J. Mustard, "Structural and geologic relationships between igneous rocks and their alteration products in Xanthe Terra, Mars", 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract #1390, 2008.
  • Wiseman, S., Arvidson, Murchie, Poulet, Morris, McEwen, and J.C. Andrews-Hanna, "Juxtaposition of layered sulfate and phyllosilicate deposits, Meridiani Planum, Mars", Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, 2007.
  • Zuber, M.T., Phillips, R.J., J.C. Andrews-Hanna,, S.A. Asmar, A.S. Konopliv, F.G. Lemoine, J.J. Plaut, D.E. Smith, and S.E. Smrekar, "Density of Mars' South Polar Layered Deposits", Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, 2007.
  • Andrews-Hanna, J.C., and M.T. Zuber, "The Martian crustal dichotomy: Evidence for a giant impact", GSA Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 39, No. 6, abstract 164-9 2007.
  • Andrews-Hanna, J.C., M.T. Zuber, and R.J. Phillips, "Meridiani Planum: Implications for the hydrologic and climatic evolution of Mars", 7th Int'l Conf. on Mars, 2007.
  • Andrews-Hanna, J.C. and M.T. Zuber "Strike-slip faulting and the tectonic evolution of Mars", LPSC, 2007.
  • Hanna, J.C. and R.J. Phillips. “Tharsis-driven hydrology and the Martian outflow channels.” 37th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference abstract #2373, Houston, TX, 2006.
  • Hanna, J.C. and R.J. Phillips. “A new system of tectonic outflow channels in the Memnonia region of Mars.”   Abstract P23B-0194. Fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA, 2005.
  • Hanna, J.C. and R.J. Phillips.  “Tectonic pressurization of aquifers in the formation of Mangala and Athabasca Valles, Mars.”  36th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #2261, Houston, TX, 2005.
  • Hanna, J.C. and R.J. Phillips. “Tectonic pressurization of aquifers on Mars: Modeling and geomorphic studies of Mangala and Athabasca Valles.” Spring meeting of the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) Science Team, Santa Fe, NM, 2004.
  • Hanna, J.C. and R.J. Phillips. “Modeling outflow channels and chaos regions on Mars.”  Fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA, 2003.
  • Hanna, J.C. and R.J. Phillips   “ Chaos regions and outflow channels: modeling and observations.” Fall Meeting of the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) Science Team, Whitefish, MT, 2003.
  • Hanna, J.C. and R.J. Phillips. “A new model of the hydrologic properties of the martian crust and implications for the formation of valley networks and outflow channels.”   34th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract # 2027 Houston, TX, 2003.