Events

Bureau of Economic Geology Seminar Series

DeFord Lecture | Dr. Joana Voigt

Effusive Volcanism on Earth and Mars by Dr. Joana Voigt, postdoctoral researcher at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology

Abstract: Lava surfaces are expressions of the volcanic and magmatic evolution of planetary bodies and thus provide a window into the emplacement as well as interior dynamics. The morphologies of volcanic terrains and shallow subsurface contain information about the thermo-physical parameters of the lava itself as well as the pre-eruption environment and thus can be used as a key to reveal emplacement conditions. This information is particularly important for interpreting eruption conditions for ancient lava flow-fields on Earth and other planetary bodies where only a post-emplacement geologic record is available.

A region of outstanding interest is Elysium Planitia on Mars. It is home to the youngest volcanic terrains, which are only a few million years old and the region may still be volcanically active. Elysium Planitia also exhibits the largest fluvial outflow channel carved in the late Amazonian epoch. By integrating geomorphological (CTX and HiRISE), geophysical (SHARAD and MOLA), and chronological constraints, we reconstructed the fluvial, volcanic, and magmatic evolution in Elysium Planitia.

While Mars’ surface is dominated by volcanic terrains, the surface and subsurface have experienced aqueous modification and are thus often shaped by an interplay between volcanic and aqueous activities. In Elysium Planitia, no spectral evidence of aqueous alteration minerals has been found to date. However, older volcanic terrains, such as Syrtis Major, show signs of water–rock interaction, as indicated by the detection of hydrated silica by CRISM. Hydrated silica is significant for understanding past environmental conditions, such as the longevity and intensity of aqueous alteration. In addition to implications on aqueous conditions, siliceous materials—including opal—provide an excellent substrate to preserve biosignatures in the geologic record and thus represent prime targets for future astrobiological exploration.

Further, analog sites here on Earth provide the means of testing our tools, approaches, and interpretations used in planetary sciences. The 2014–2015 Holuhraun lava flow-field in the Icelandic highlands provides a unique martian analog, allowing us to refine our understanding of eruption dynamics and lava morphology through a combination of remote sensing, unoccupied aircraft systems, and field observations. This seminar will demonstrate how these tools and techniques enhance our comprehension of effusive eruptions and the interactions between water and rock within volcanic terrains.

UTIG Seminar Series: Student AGU Student Practice Talks

Each year, the week before AGU’s Fall Meeting, we invite UTIG student researchers to practice their AGU talks. Each presenter will be given 11 minutes, as per AGU’s oral presentation for 2024, followed by a few minutes for Q&A and feedback.

TALK ONE

Speaker: McKenzie Carlson

Title: Dynamic triggering of near-trench slow slip at the Hikurangi subduction zone documented in IODP borehole observatories

TALK TWO

Speaker: Medha Prakash

Title: Remote Sensing Investigations of Suevite in Schrödinger Basin

TALK THREE

Speaker: Mercedes Jordan

Title: Utilizing Heterogeneities in Lunar Radar Sounder Surface Reflectivity to Identify Metallic Oxides in the Procellarum KREEP Terrane

TALK FOUR

Speaker: Julia Miller

Title: Preconditions of wildfires vary within Europe

For abstracts and more info visit the Event Page.

Hot Science - Cool Talks: "Bioengineering to Save the World"

Dr. Hal Alper is turning the tide on the plastic crisis. Using artificial intelligence, Dr. Alper and his team are engineering enzymes—a catalyst in cells—to break down plastics in days, not centuries. Join Hot Science – Cool Talks and discover how these advances in bioengineering could transform our approach to plastic waste, protect our oceans and waterways, and pave the way to a more sustainable world.

AGU Social

Join fellow Jackson School students, friends and alumni for a gathering as part of AGU’s annual meeting.

WHEN: Wednesday, December 11 | 12:00-2:00pm
WHERE: The Capital Burger | 1005 7th Street NW Washington, DC 20001

Attendance requires an RSVP; guests without RSVP confirmation will not be admitted 

Bureau of Economic Geology Seminar Series