Danika Wellington
A5020367219- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Anomaly Detection Techniques and Applications
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Aeolian processes and effects
- Space exploration and regulation
- Remote Sensing in Agriculture
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
- Climate change and permafrost
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Calibration and Measurement Techniques
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Geological and Geophysical Studies
- Remote-Sensing Image Classification
- Marine and environmental studies
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Scientific Research and Philosophical Inquiry
United States Geological Survey
2021-2022
KBR (United States)
2022
Arizona State University
2013-2021
Chesapeake Bay Program
2020
Ames Research Center
2020
Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie
2017
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
2017
The Curiosity rover discovered fine-grained sedimentary rocks, which are inferred to represent an ancient lake and preserve evidence of environment that would have been suited support a martian biosphere founded on chemolithoautotrophy. This aqueous was characterized by neutral pH, low salinity, variable redox states both iron sulfur species. Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus were measured directly as key biogenic elements; inference, is assumed available. probably had...
The Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) on the Mars Science Laboratory’s Curiosity rover began making detailed measurements of cosmic ray and energetic particle radiation environment surface 7 August 2012. We report discuss absorbed dose equivalent from galactic rays solar particles martian for ~300 days observations during current maximum. These provide insight into hazards associated with a human mission to an anchor point which model subsurface environment, implications microbial survival...
Samples from the Rocknest aeolian deposit were heated to ~835°C under helium flow and evolved gases analyzed by Curiosity’s Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite. H 2 O, SO , CO O major released. Water abundance (1.5 3 weight percent) release temperature suggest that is bound within an amorphous component of sample. Decomposition fine-grained Fe or Mg carbonate likely source much . Evolved coincident with Cl, suggesting oxygen produced thermal decomposition oxychloride compound. Elevated...
Volume mixing and isotope ratios secured with repeated atmospheric measurements taken the Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite on Curiosity rover are: carbon dioxide (CO2), 0.960(±0.007); argon-40 ((40)Ar), 0.0193(±0.0001); nitrogen (N2), 0.0189(±0.0003); oxygen, 1.45(±0.09) × 10(-3); monoxide, < 1.0 (40)Ar/(36)Ar, 1.9(±0.3) 10(3). The (40)Ar/N2 ratio is 1.7 times greater (40)Ar/(36)Ar 1.6 lower than values reported by Viking Lander mass spectrometer in 1976, whereas other are generally...
H 2 O, CO , SO O S, HCl, chlorinated hydrocarbons, NO, and other trace gases were evolved during pyrolysis of two mudstone samples acquired by the Curiosity rover at Yellowknife Bay within Gale crater, Mars. O/OH-bearing phases included 2:1 phyllosilicate(s), bassanite, akaganeite, amorphous materials. Thermal decomposition carbonates combustion organic materials are candidate sources for . Concurrent evolution hydrocarbons suggests presence oxychlorine phase(s). Sulfides likely...
Observations by the Mars Science Laboratory Mast Camera (Mastcam) in Gale crater reveal isolated outcrops of cemented pebbles (2 to 40 millimeters diameter) and sand grains with textures typical fluvial sedimentary conglomerates. Rounded conglomerates indicate substantial abrasion. ChemCam emission spectra at one outcrop show a predominantly feldspathic composition, consistent minimal aqueous alteration sediments. Sediment was mobilized ancient water flows that likely exceeded threshold...
Sedimentary rocks examined by the Curiosity rover at Yellowknife Bay, Mars, were derived from sources that evolved an approximately average martian crustal composition to one influenced alkaline basalts. No evidence of chemical weathering is preserved, indicating arid, possibly cold, paleoclimates and rapid erosion deposition. The absence predicted geochemical variations indicates magnetite phyllosilicates formed diagenesis under low-temperature, circumneutral pH, rock-dominated aqueous...
The ChemCam instrument, which provides insight into martian soil chemistry at the submillimeter scale, identified two principal types along Curiosity rover traverse: a fine-grained mafic type and locally derived, coarse-grained felsic type. component is representative of widespread soils similar in composition to dust. It possesses ubiquitous hydrogen signature spectra, corresponding hydration amorphous phases found by CheMin instrument. This likely accounts for an important fraction global...
Abstract The Curiosity rover has analyzed abundant light‐toned fracture‐fill material within the Yellowknife Bay sedimentary deposits. ChemCam instrument, coupled with Mastcam and ChemCam/Remote Micro Imager images, was able to demonstrate that these fracture fills consist of calcium sulfate veins, many which appear be hydrated at a level expected for gypsum bassanite. Anhydrite is locally present found in location characterized by nodular texture. An intricate assemblage veins crosses...
Significance We present data supporting the presence of an indigenous source fixed nitrogen on surface Mars in form nitrate. This may indicate first stage development a primitive cycle ancient and would have provided biochemically accessible nitrogen.
"Jake_M," the first rock analyzed by Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer instrument on Curiosity rover, differs substantially in chemical composition from other known martian igneous rocks: It is alkaline (>15% normative nepheline) and relatively fractionated. Jake_M compositionally similar to terrestrial mugearites, a type typically found at ocean islands continental rifts. By analogy with these comparable rocks, could have been produced extensive fractional crystallization of primary or...
Abstract The NASA Curiosity rover Mast Camera (Mastcam) system is a pair of fixed‐focal length, multispectral, color CCD imagers mounted ~2 m above the surface on rover's remote sensing mast, along with associated electronics and an onboard calibration target. left Mastcam (M‐34) has 34 mm focal instantaneous field view (IFOV) 0.22 mrad, FOV 20° × 15° over full 1648 1200 pixel span its Kodak KAI‐2020 CCD. right (M‐100) 100 IFOV 0.074 6.8° 5.1° using same detector. cameras are separated by...
Abstract The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover performed coordinated measurements to examine the textures and compositions of aeolian sands in active Bagnold dune field. are rounded subrounded, very fine medium sized (~45–500 μm) with ≥6 distinct grain colors. In contrast examined by a dust‐covered, inactive bedform called Rocknest soils at other landing sites, darker, less red, better sorted, have fewer silt‐sized or smaller grains, show no evidence for cohesion. Nevertheless,...
By analogy with Earth, methane in the Martian atmosphere is a potential signature of ongoing or past biological activity. During decade, Earth-based telescopic observations reported "plumes" tens parts per billion by volume (ppbv), and those from Mars orbit showed localized patches, prompting speculation sources subsurface bacteria nonbiological sources. From situ measurements made Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS) on Curiosity using distinctive spectral pattern specific to methane, we report...
Abstract This paper provides an overview of the Curiosity rover's exploration at Vera Rubin ridge (VRR) and summarizes science results. VRR is a distinct geomorphic feature on lower Aeolis Mons (informally known as Mount Sharp) that was identified in orbital data based its texture, topographic expression, association with hematite spectral signature. conducted extensive remote sensing observations, acquired dozens contact targets, drilled three outcrop samples from ridge, well one sample...
Abstract Mars' atmosphere typically supports dust aerosol with an effective radius near 1.5 μm, varying from ~1 μm during low times northern summer solstice to ~2 higher in southern spring and summer. After global events, size variations outside this range have not previously been observed. We report on imaging spectral observations by the Curiosity rover through 2018 event. These show that was seasonally normal prior local onset of increased opacity, rapidly above 4 increasing remained 3...
Abstract. The increasing availability of high-quality remote sensing data and advanced technologies has spurred land cover mapping to characterize change from local global scales. However, most datasets either span multiple decades at a scale or limited time over larger geographic extent. Here, we present new surface dataset created by the Land Change Monitoring, Assessment, Projection (LCMAP) program conterminous United States (CONUS). LCMAP consists annual products period 1985–2017 30 m...
Abstract As part of the Bagnold Dune campaign conducted by Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity, visible/near‐infrared reflectance spectra dune sands were acquired using Mast Camera (Mastcam) multispectral imaging (445–1013 nm) and Chemistry (ChemCam) passive point spectroscopy (400–840 nm). By comparing from pristine rover‐disturbed ripple crests troughs within field, through analysis sieved grain size fractions, constraints on mineral segregation sorting could be determined. In general,...
The Mastcam CCD cameras on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover each use an 8-position filter wheel in acquiring up to 1600 × 1200 pixel images. set includes a broadband near-infrared cutoff for RGB Bayer imaging camera and 12 narrow-band geology filters distributed between two cameras, spanning wavelength range 445–1013 nm. This region relatively broad charge-transfer crystal-field absorption bands that are most commonly due presence of iron-bearing minerals. To identify such...
Abstract Images from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission of lacustrine sedimentary rocks Vera Rubin ridge on “Mt. Sharp” in Gale crater, Mars, have shown stark color variations red to purple gray. These differences crosscut stratigraphy and are likely due diagenetic alteration sediments after deposition. However, chemistry timing these fluid interactions is unclear. Determining how processes may modified chemical mineralogical signatures ancient Martian environments critical for...
Visible/short-wave infrared spectral data from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) show absorptions attributed to hematite at Vera Rubin ridge (VRR), a topographic feature on northwest Mt. Sharp. The goals of this study are determine why caused by ferric iron strongly visible orbit VRR and improve interpretation CRISM throughout lower These achieved analyzing coordinated in situ along Curiosity rover's traverse. bedrock within areas that have deepest also has...
Sample-based estimates augmented by complete coverage land-cover maps were used to estimate area and describe patterns of annual change across the conterminous United States (CONUS) between 1985 2016. Most CONUS land cover remained stable in terms net class over this time, but a substantial gross dynamic was captured cumulative time intervals. The dominant types changes can be grouped into natural resource cycles, increases urbanization, surface-water dynamics. 30-year series showed...
In this work, we present a system based on convolutional autoencoders for detecting novel features in multispectral images. We introduce SAMMIE: Selections Autoencoder Modeling of Multispectral Image Expectations. Previous work using employed the scalar reconstruction error to classify new images as or typical. show that spatial-spectral map can enable both accurate classification novelty well human-comprehensible explanations detection. apply our methodology detection geologic Martian...