## Breadcrumb

-  Astrogeology Science Center 
-  Science 

#           Caves                    Active

      By Astrogeology Science Center      September 23, 2022    

## Lava River Cave, AZ

                  -              Overview           
                  -              Publications           

The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on caves. In particular, we are interested in the physics of caves, which involves the application of the principles of heat transfer, mass transfer and meteorology to understand how cave climates evolve.

We are also interested in caves on other planetary bodies and moons, and how they may be used as resources for future missions. 

### Cave Climate

Caves have their own meteorological conditions inside. The long-term trends of those conditions is what we refer to by "cave climate". Caves generally have areas where temperature, relative humidity, ambient pressure and winds vary diurnally as well as seasonally. 

### Ice Caves

We are studying ice caves. Ice caves are rock-hosted caves that contain perennial ice deposits. Ice caves occur on Earth even in warm, arid areas such as Arizona. Ice caves are interesting because they are frequently very sensitive to the external climate.

### Data

                                  - Mars Global Cave Candidate Catalog
                                  - Mars MRO cave catalog

### Study Area

### Contacts

#### Kaj Williams, Ph.D.

##### Research Physical Scientist

Astrogeology Science Center

kewilliams@usgs.gov

#### Timothy Neal Titus, Ph.D.

##### Research Space Scientist

Astrogeology Science Center

ttitus@usgs.gov

928-556-7201

#### Chris H Okubo, PhD

##### Deputy Center Director and Research Operations Lead

Astrogeology Science Center

cokubo@usgs.gov

928-556-7009

#### Amber Gullikson

##### Geologist

Astrogeology Science Center

agullikson@usgs.gov

### Explore Search

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                            - Research
                            - Atmospheres
                            - Caves
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View All **

May 27, 2022

####                 Fundamental science and engineering questions in planetary cave exploration              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

April 30, 2021

####                 Science and technology requirements to explore caves in our Solar System              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

April 1, 2021

####                 Mars Astrobiological Cave and Internal habitability Explorer (MACIE): A New Frontiers mission concept              

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

October 1, 2017

####                 Martian cave air-movement via Helmholtz resonance              

Core Science Systems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

October 6, 2012

####                 Candidate cave entrances on Mars              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

January 1, 2008

####                 On developing thermal cave detection techniques for earth, the moon and mars              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

January 1, 2007

####                 THEMIS observes possible cave skylights on Mars              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

                  - Overview  
The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on caves. In particular, we are interested in the physics of caves, which involves the application of the principles of heat transfer, mass transfer and meteorology to understand how cave climates evolve.

We are also interested in caves on other planetary bodies and moons, and how they may be used as resources for future missions. 
Cave Climate
Caves have their own meteorological conditions inside. The long-term trends of those conditions is what we refer to by "cave climate". Caves generally have areas where temperature, relative humidity, ambient pressure and winds vary diurnally as well as seasonally. 
Ice Caves
We are studying ice caves. Ice caves are rock-hosted caves that contain perennial ice deposits. Ice caves occur on Earth even in warm, arid areas such as Arizona. Ice caves are interesting because they are frequently very sensitive to the external climate.
Data- Mars Global Cave Candidate Catalog
- Mars MRO cave catalog
Study AreaContactsKaj Williams, Ph.D.Research Physical ScientistAstrogeology Science CenterEmailkewilliams@usgs.govTimothy Neal Titus, Ph.D.Research Space ScientistAstrogeology Science CenterEmailttitus@usgs.govPhone928-556-7201Chris H Okubo, PhDDeputy Center Director and Research Operations LeadAstrogeology Science CenterEmailcokubo@usgs.govPhone928-556-7009Amber GulliksonGeologistAstrogeology Science CenterEmailagullikson@usgs.govExplore Search- Analogs
- Earth
- Modeling
- Moon
- Research
- Atmospheres
- Caves
- Ice
- Manned Exploration
- Sampling and Analysis
- Terrestrial Planets
- Unmanned Exploration
- Volcanism
- Water
- Climate
- Planetary Science
- Caves
- Lava Tube
View All ** 
                  - Publications  LabelMay 27, 2022                Fundamental science and engineering questions in planetary cave exploration              Nearly half a century ago, two papers postulated the likelihood of lunar lava tube caves using mathematical models. Today, armed with an array of orbiting and fly-by satellites and survey instrumentation, we have now acquired cave data across our solar system—including the identification of potential cave entrances on the Moon, Mars, and at least six other planetary bodies. These discoveries gaveAuthorsJ. Judson Wynne, Timothy N. Titus, Ali-akbar Agha-Mohammadi, Armando Azua-Bustos, Penelope J. Boston, Pablo de León, Cansu Demirel-Floyd, Jo de Waele, Heather Jones, Michael J. Malaska, Ana Z. Miller, Haley M. Sapers, Francesco Sauro, Derek L. Sonderegger, Kyle Uckert, Uland Y. Wong, E. Calvin Alexander, Leroy Chiao, Glen E. Cushing, John DeDecker, Alberto G. Fairén, Amos Frumkin, Gary L. Harris, Michelle L. Kearney, Laura A. Kerber, Richard J. Léveillé, Kavya Manyapu, Matteo Massironi, John E. Mylroie, Bogdan P. Onac, Scott E. Parazynski, Charity M. Phillips-Lander, T. H. Prettyman, Dirk Schulze-Makuch, Robert V. Wagner, William L. Whittaker, Kaj E. WilliamsByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterApril 30, 2021                Science and technology requirements to explore caves in our Solar System              We are in the incipient phase of exploring the subterranean realm of our Solar System. Planetary caves research offers interdisciplinary, cross-planetary body investigations spanning geology, climatology, astrobiology, robotics, and human use. Caves are of great importance in advancing our understanding of planetary processes and the search for life beyond Earth. Given these advances, a diverseAuthorsTimothy N. Titus, Janna Wynne, P. J. Boston, P. de Leon, C. Demirel-Floyd, H Jones, Francesco Sauro, Kyle Uckert, Ali-akbar Agha-Mohammadi, E. Calvin Alexander, James W. Ashley, Armando Azua-Bustos, Leroy Chiao, Glen E. Cushing, J DeDecker, Alberto G. Fairén, A Frumkin, Jo de Waele, Gary L. Harris, Laura A. Kerber, Richard J. Léveillé, Michael J. Malaska, Kavya Manyapu, Matteo Massironi, Ana Z. Miller, John E. Mylroie, Bogdan P. Onac, Scott Parazynski, Charity Phillips-Lander, Thomas Prettyman, Haley Sapers, Norbert Schorghofer, Dirk Schulze-Makuch, Red Whittaker, Kaj E. Williams, Uland WongByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterApril 1, 2021                Mars Astrobiological Cave and Internal habitability Explorer (MACIE): A New Frontiers mission concept              Martian subsurface habitability and astrobiology can be evaluated via a lava tube cave, without drilling. MACIE addresses two key goals of the Decadal Survey (2013–2022) and three MEPAG goals. New advances in robotic architectures, autonomous navigation, target sample selection, and analysis will enable MACIE to explore the Martian subsurface.AuthorsC. M. Phillips-Lander, A. Agha-mohamamdi, J. J. Wynne, Timothy N. Titus, N. Chanover, C. Demirel-Floyd, Kyle Uckert, Kaj E. Williams, D Wyrick, J. Blank, Penelope J. Boston, K. Mitchell, A Kereszturi, J. Martin-Torres, S. Shkolyar, N. Bardabelias, S. Datta, K. Retherford, Lydia Sam, A. Bahardwaj, A. Fairén, D. Flannery, Roger C. WiensByCore Science Systems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterOctober 1, 2017                Martian cave air-movement via Helmholtz resonance              Infrasonic resonance has previously been measured in terrestrial caves by other researchers, where Helmholtz resonance has been suggested as the plausible mechanism resulting in periodic wind reversals within cave entrances. We extend this reasoning to possible Martian caves, where we examine the characteristics of four atypical pit craters (APCs) on Tharsis, suggested as candidate cave entrance lAuthorsKaj E. Williams, Timothy N. Titus, Chris Okubo, Glen E. CushingByCore Science Systems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterOctober 6, 2012                Candidate cave entrances on Mars              This paper presents newly discovered candidate cave entrances into Martian near-surface lava tubes, volcano-tectonic fracture systems, and pit craters and describes their characteristics and exploration possibilities. These candidates are all collapse features that occur either intermittently along laterally continuous trench-like depressions or in the floors of sheer-walled atypical pit craters.AuthorsGlen E. CushingByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterJanuary 1, 2008                On developing thermal cave detection techniques for earth, the moon and mars              The purpose of this study is to (1) demonstrate the viability of detecting terrestrial caves at thermal-infrared wavelengths, (2) improve our understanding of terrestrial cave thermal behavior, (3) identify times of day when cave openings have the maximum thermal contrast with the surrounding surface regolith, and (4) further our understanding of how to detect caves on Earth, the Moon and Mars. WeAuthorsJ. Judson Wynne, Timothy N. Titus, Guillermo Chong DiazByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterJanuary 1, 2007                THEMIS observes possible cave skylights on Mars              Seven possible skylight entrances into Martian caves were observed on and around the flanks of Arsia Mons by the Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS). Distinct from impact craters, collapse pits or any other surface feature on Mars, these candidates appear to be deep dark holes at visible wavelengths while infrared observations show their thermal behaviors to be consistent with suAuthorsGlen Cushing, Timothy N. Titus, J. Judson Wynne, P. R. ChristensenByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center