DIX Planetary Science Seminar

The distribution and nature of water ice on Mars has important implications for understanding the Martian climate system, as well as evaluating the in-situ resources available for future human exploration and the astrobiological potential of our solar system. I will present the results of several multi-faceted studies to investigate the distribution, properties, and preservation of ice on Mars. I will show how the properties of mid-latitude ice can be constrained using remote sensing observations from imaging and radar systems onboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and discuss the importance of these constraints for understanding the planet's climate. I will discuss how I combine these remote sensing datasets with theoretical models of ice stability to understand the evolution and continued preservation of subsurface ice sheets to the present day. I will conclude by presenting how new remote sensing projects, such as the SWIM Project (swim.psi.edu), and analog studies can elucidate ice-related processes occurring on Mars and elsewhere.