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#           Planetary Volatiles: Snow and Ice                    Active

      By Astrogeology Science Center      October 3, 2022    

## Planetary Volatiles

                  -              Overview           
                  -              Data           
                  -              Publications           

The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on planetary volatiles. Volatiles include substances that have a high vapor pressure relative to the ambient atmosphere. We study the longevity, locations and other characteristics of volatiles. More specifically:

H2O ice, snow and frost are volatiles on the Earth. We study the persistence of perennial snowfields in Colorado and Mongolia.

Mars has snow, frost and ice of CO2 and H2O. We study Martian H2O and CO2 ice and frost, as well as polar regions in general. 

Our moon has H2O ice in shadowed areas. We study lunar H2O ice.

Other moons such as Titan also have volatiles, which include liquid methane and ethane. 

### 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

#### Colin Dundas, Ph.D.

##### Research Geologist

Astrogeology Science Center

cdundas@usgs.gov

928-556-7143

####             Kenneth Edward Herkenhoff, Ph.D. (Former Employee)          

##### Research Geologist

Astrogeology Science Center

### Explore Search

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View All **

May 21, 2021

####                 Locations and Properties of Ice-Exposing Scarps and New Impact Craters in the Mid-Latitudes of Mars              

Astrogeology Science Center

July 15, 2022

####                 The formation mechanisms for mid-latitude ice scarps on Mars              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

July 13, 2022

####                 Martian gully activity and the gully sediment transport system              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

March 23, 2022

####                 Mass balance of two perennial snowfields: Niwot Ridge, Colorado and the Ulaan Taiga, Mongolia.              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Astrogeology Science Center

October 11, 2021

####                 Past, present, and future of Mars Polar Science: Outcomes and outlook from the 7th International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

February 24, 2021

####                 Airborne dust plumes lofted by dislodged ice blocks at Russell crater, Mars              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

January 26, 2021

####                 Widespread exposures of extensive clean shallow ice in the mid-latitudes of Mars              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

July 8, 2020

####                 Conceptual model for the removal of cold-trapped H2O ice on the Mars northern seasonal springtime polar cap              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

January 31, 2019

####                 The formation of gullies on Mars today              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

February 2, 2018

####                 Exposed subsurface ice sheets in the Martian mid-latitudes              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

December 1, 2017

####                 CO2 cycle              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

October 16, 2017

####                 The effects of snow and salt on ice table stability in University Valley, Antarctica              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

October 22, 2015

####                 Modeling the development of martian sublimation thermokarst landforms              

Natural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science Center

#### Pagination

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                  - Overview  
The USGS Astrogeology Science Center conducts research on planetary volatiles. Volatiles include substances that have a high vapor pressure relative to the ambient atmosphere. We study the longevity, locations and other characteristics of volatiles. More specifically:

H2O ice, snow and frost are volatiles on the Earth. We study the persistence of perennial snowfields in Colorado and Mongolia.

Mars has snow, frost and ice of CO2 and H2O. We study Martian H2O and CO2 ice and frost, as well as polar regions in general. 

Our moon has H2O ice in shadowed areas. We study lunar H2O ice.

Other moons such as Titan also have volatiles, which include liquid methane and ethane. 
Study AreaContactsKaj Williams, Ph.D.Research Physical ScientistAstrogeology Science CenterEmailkewilliams@usgs.govTimothy Neal Titus, Ph.D.Research Space ScientistAstrogeology Science CenterEmailttitus@usgs.govPhone928-556-7201Colin Dundas, Ph.D.Research GeologistAstrogeology Science CenterEmailcdundas@usgs.govPhone928-556-7143            Kenneth Edward Herkenhoff, Ph.D. (Former Employee)          Research GeologistAstrogeology Science CenterExplore Search- Analogs
- Earth
- Mars
- Modeling
- Research
- Astrobiology
- Atmospheres
- Dust
- Ice
- Snow
- Climate
- Planetary Science
- Water
- Frost
- Cryosphere
View All ** 
                  - Data  LabelMay 21, 2021                Locations and Properties of Ice-Exposing Scarps and New Impact Craters in the Mid-Latitudes of Mars              Although ice in the Martian mid-latitudes is typically covered by a layer of dust or regolith, it is exposed in some locations by fresh impact craters or in erosional scarps. In both cases, the exposed ice is massive or excess ice with a low lithic content. We find that erosional scarps occur between 50-61 north and south latitude, and that they are concentrated in and near Milankovi crater in theByAstrogeology Science Center 
                  - Publications  Filter Total Items: 17Publication Type (field_pub_type)TypeArticleBookBook ChapterConference PaperNewsletterOtherReportThesisRelease Date (field_release_date)Year202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995LabelJuly 15, 2022                The formation mechanisms for mid-latitude ice scarps on Mars              Mid-latitude exposed ice scarps have recently been identified on Mars (Dundas et al., 2018; 2021). The presence of such surface ice exposures at relatively low latitudes was itself a mystery, and the formation dynamics of such scarps have also not been explained. In this work we model the ice ablation rates of several identified mid-latitude scarps. We find that, given certain characteristics of tAuthorsKaj E. Williams, Colin M. Dundas, Melinda A. KahreByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterJuly 13, 2022                Martian gully activity and the gully sediment transport system              The formation process for Martian gullies is a critical unknown for understanding recent climate conditions. Leading hypotheses include formation by snowmelt in a past climate, or formation via currently active CO2 frost processes. This paper presents an expanded catalog of >300 recent flows in gullies. The results indicate that sediment transport in current gully flows moves the full range of matAuthorsColin M. Dundas, Susan J. Conway, Glen E. CushingByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterMarch 23, 2022                Mass balance of two perennial snowfields: Niwot Ridge, Colorado and the Ulaan Taiga, Mongolia.              Perennial snowfields are generally receding worldwide, though the precise mechanisms causing recessions are not always well understood. Here we apply a numerical snowpack model to identify the leading factors controlling the mass balance of two perennial snowfields that have significant human interest: Arapaho glacier, located at Niwot Ridge in the Colorado Rocky Mountains (United States), and a sAuthorsKaj E. Williams, Christopher P. McKay, Owen B. Toon, Keith S. JenningsByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Astrogeology Science CenterOctober 11, 2021                Past, present, and future of Mars Polar Science: Outcomes and outlook from the 7th International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration              Mars Polar Science is a subfield of Mars science that encompasses all studies of the cryosphere of Mars and its interaction with the Martian environment. Every 4 yr, the community of scientists dedicated to this subfield meets to discuss new findings and debate open issues in the International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration (ICMPSE). This paper summarizes the proceedings of the sAuthorsPatricio Becerra, Isaac B. Smith, Shannon M Hibbard, Chimira Andres, Jonathan Bapst, Ali Bramson, Peter Buhler, Andrea Coronato, Serina Diniega, Jeremy Emmett, Anna Grau Galofre, Clemence Herny, Melinda Kahre, J. Paul Knightly, Stefano Nerozzi, Alyssa Pascuzzo, Ganna Portyankina, Jorge Rabassa, Leslie Tamppari, Timothy N. Titus, Jennifer L Whitten, Zuriñe YoldiByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterFebruary 24, 2021                Airborne dust plumes lofted by dislodged ice blocks at Russell crater, Mars              Linear dune gullies on poleward‐facing Martian slopes are enigmatic. Formation by CO2‐ice block or snow cornice falls has been proposed based on optical imagery of bright, high‐albedo features inside gully channels. Because these features often resemble patchy frost residue rather than three‐dimensional blocks, more evidence is needed to support the ice‐block formation mechanism. Satellite imageryAuthorsCynthia Dinwiddie, Timothy N. TitusByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterJanuary 26, 2021                Widespread exposures of extensive clean shallow ice in the mid-latitudes of Mars              Although ice in the Martian midlatitudes is typically covered by a layer of dust or regolith, it is exposed in some locations by fresh impact craters or in erosional scarps. In both cases, the exposed ice is massive or excess ice with a low lithic content. We find that erosional scarps occur between 50° and 61° north and south latitude and that they are concentrated in and near Milankovič crater iAuthorsColin M. Dundas, Michael T. Mellon, Susan J. Conway, Ingrid J. Daubar, Kaj E. Williams, Lujendra Ojha, James J. Wray, Ali Bramson, Shane Byrne, Alfred S. McEwen, Liliya Posiolova, Gunnar Speth, Donna Viola, Margaret E. Landis, Gareth A Morgan, Asmin V PathareByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterJuly 8, 2020                Conceptual model for the removal of cold-trapped H2O ice on the Mars northern seasonal springtime polar cap              The transport of H2O ice along the retreating north polar seasonal CO2 ice cap has previously been modeled and observed. Spectral observations show that H2O ice forms on the interior of the seasonal cap, while thermal observations show these regions to be consistent with CO2 ice. Prior to the sublimation of the seasonal CO2, the observed H2O ice deposits are diminished—and because H2O ice sublimatAuthorsTimothy N. Titus, Kaj E. Williams, Glen E. CushingByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterJanuary 31, 2019                The formation of gullies on Mars today              A decade of high-resolution monitoring has revealed extensive activity in fresh Martian gullies. Flows within the gullies are diverse: they can be relatively light, neutral or dark, colourful or bland, and range from superficial deposits to 10 m-scale topographic changes. We observed erosion and transport of material within gullies, new terraces, freshly eroded channel segments, migrating sinuousAuthorsColin M. Dundas, Alfred S. McEwen, Serina Diniega, Candice J. Hansen, Jim N. McElwainceByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterFebruary 2, 2018                Exposed subsurface ice sheets in the Martian mid-latitudes              Thick deposits cover broad regions of the Martian mid-latitudes with a smooth mantle; erosionin these regions creates scarps that expose the internal structure of the mantle.Weinvestigated eight of these locations and found that they expose deposits of water ice thatcan be >100 meters thick, extending downward from depths as shallow as 1 to 2 meters belowthe surface.The scarps are actively retAuthorsColin M. Dundas, Ali M Bramson, Lujendra Ojha, James J. Wray, Michael T. Mellon, Shane Byrne, Alfred S. McEwen, N. E. Putzig, Donna Viola, Sarah Sutton, E. Clark, J.W. HoltByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterDecember 1, 2017                CO2 cycle              This chapter discusses the use of models, observations, and laboratory experiments to understand the cycling of CO2 between the atmosphere and seasonal Martian polar caps. This cycle is primarily controlled by the polar heat budget, and thus the emphasis here is on its components, including solar and infrared radiation, the effect of clouds (water- and CO2-ice), atmospheric transport, and subsurfaAuthorsTimothy N. Titus, Shane Byrne, Anthony Colaprete, Francois Forget, Timothy I. Michaels, Thomas H. PrettymanByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterOctober 16, 2017                The effects of snow and salt on ice table stability in University Valley, Antarctica              The Antarctic Dry Valleys represent a unique environment where it is possible to study dry permafrost overlaying an ice-rich permafrost. In this paper, two opposing mechanisms for ice table stability in University Valley are addressed: i) diffusive recharge via thin seasonal snow deposits and ii) desiccation via salt deposits in the upper soil column. A high-resolution time-marching soil and snowAuthorsKaj E. Williams, Jennifer L. Heldmann, Christopher P. McKay, Michael T. MellonByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterOctober 22, 2015                Modeling the development of martian sublimation thermokarst landforms              Sublimation-thermokarst landforms result from collapse of the surface when ice is lost from the subsurface. On Mars, scalloped landforms with scales of decameters to kilometers are observed in the mid-latitudes and considered likely thermokarst features. We describe a landscape evolution model that couples diffusive mass movement and subsurface ice loss due to sublimation. Over periods of tens ofAuthorsColin M. Dundas, Shane Byrne, Alfred S. McEwenByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Astrogeology Science CenterPagination-                Current page            1 
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