D. Banfield
A5079485724- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Seismic Waves and Analysis
- Scientific Research and Discoveries
- Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Aeolian processes and effects
- Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
- Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
- Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Seismology and Earthquake Studies
- Space exploration and regulation
- Geophysics and Sensor Technology
- Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
- Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations
- Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
Ames Research Center
2022-2025
Cornell University
2015-2024
NASA Research Park
2024
Planetary Science Institute
2020-2023
Space Science Institute
2004-2022
Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique
2020-2022
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
2020-2022
Centro de Astrobiología
2022
Los Alamos National Laboratory
2022
Instituto de Química Física Blas Cabrera
2022
Voyager 2 images of Neptune reveal a windy planet characterized by bright clouds methane ice suspended in an exceptionally clear atmosphere above lower deck hydrogen sulfide or ammonia ices. Neptune's is dominated large anticyclonic storm system that has been named the Great Dark Spot (GDS). About same size as Earth extent, GDS bears both many similarities and some differences to Red Jupiter. zonal wind profile remarkably similar Uranus. three major rings at radii 42,000, 53,000, 63,000...
Abstract The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) spacecraft landed successfully on Mars imaged the surface to characterize surficial geology. Here we report geology subsurface structure of landing site aid in situ geophysical investigations. InSight a degraded impact crater Elysium Planitia smooth sandy, granule- pebble-rich with few rocks. Superposed craters are common eolian bedforms sparse. During landing, pulsed retrorockets modified...
A visible atmospheric optical depth of 0.9 was measured by the Spirit rover at Gusev crater and Opportunity Meridiani Planum. Optical decreased about 0.6 to 0.7% per sol through both 90-sol primary missions. The vertical distribution dust consistent with uniform mixing, a scale height 11.56 +/- 0.62 kilometers. dust's cross section weighted mean radius 1.47 0.21 micrometers (mm) 1.52 0.18 mm Meridiani. Comparison depths 9-mm shows visible-to-infrared ratio 2.0 0.2 for comparison previous...
Overflights of the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) by Global Surveyor (MGS) provide a unique opportunity to examine some basic properties dust aerosols, starting with one most fundamental, indices refraction ( m = n + ik ) in infrared. The upward‐viewing geometry Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini‐TES) and combined contemporaneous observations from both MER MGS are powerful tools. Their use allows atmospheric retrievals directly determine k while offering constraints for menagerie...
The Spirit and Opportunity Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) landed on the surface of in January 2004. Thermal infrared spectra taken by Miniature Emission Spectrometer (Mini‐TES) instrument board each rover, collected both upward‐looking downward‐looking geometries, has allowed for retrieval atmospheric temperatures between 1 2000 m above surface, column optical depth dust, abundance water vapor more than one full Martian year. During this period, Mini‐TES observed annual cycle temperature...
The first systematic observations of the middle atmosphere Mars (35km-80km) with Climate Sounder (MCS) show dramatic patterns diurnal thermal variation, evident in retrievals temperature and water ice opacity. At time writing, dataset MCS limb is sufficient for spectral analysis within a limited range latitudes seasons. This shows that these variations are almost exclusively associated tide. Using Martian General Circulation Model to extend our we tide dominates all
The InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) mission began collecting high quality seismic data on Mars in February 2019. This manuscript documents the seismicity observed by SEIS, InSight's seismometer, from this time until end of March 2020. Within project, Marsquake Service (MQS) is responsible for prompt review all collected InSight, detection events that are likely to be origin, curation release catalogues. In first year collection, MQS...
The InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) mission landed on the surface of Mars November 26, 2018. One scientific instruments in payload that is essential to SEIS package (Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure) which includes a very broadband short period seismometer. More than one year since landing, continues be fully operational has been collecting an exceptional data set contains not only signals seismic origins, but also noise...
Studying the atmospheric Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) is crucial to understand climate of a planet. The meteorological measurements by instruments onboard InSight at latitude 4.5$^{\circ}$N make uniquely rich dataset study active turbulent dynamics daytime PBL on Mars. Here we use high-sensitivity continuous pressure, wind, temperature in first 400 sols operations (from northern late winter midsummer) analyze wind gusts, convective cells and vortices Mars' PBL. We compare...
Despite the importance of sand and dust to Mars geomorphology, weather, exploration, processes that move raise maintain Mars' ubiquitous haze produce storms have not been well quantified in situ, with missions lacking either necessary sensors or a sufficiently active aeolian environment. Perseverance rover's novel environmental Jezero crater's dusty environment remedy this. In Perseverance's first 216 sols, four convective vortices raised locally, while, on average, passed rover daily, over...
Abstract Rovers and landers on Mars have experienced local, regional, planetary‐scale dust storms. However, in situ documentation of active lifting within storms has remained elusive. Over 5–11 January 2022 (L S 153°–156°), a storm passed over the Perseverance rover site. Peak visible optical depth was ∼2, visibility across crater briefly reduced. Pressure amplitudes temperatures responded to storm. Winds up 20 m s −1 rotated around site before wind sensor damaged. The imaged 21 dust‐lifting...
Abstract NASA’s Perseverance rover’s Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer is collecting data at Jezero crater, characterizing the physical processes in lowest layer of Martian atmosphere. Here we present measurements from instrument’s first 250 sols operation, revealing a spatially and temporally variable meteorology Jezero. We find that temperature four heights capture response atmospheric surface to multiple phenomena. observe transition stable night-time thermal inversion daytime, highly...
Abstract The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer instrument on 2020 has five Atmospheric Temperature Sensors at two altitudes (0.84 and 1.45 m) plus a Thermal InfraRed Sensor that measures temperatures the surface ∼40 m. We analyze measurements from these sensors to describe evolution of in Jezero up mission sol 400 (solar longitude L S = 13°–203°). diurnal thermal cycle is characterized by daytime convective period nocturnal stable atmosphere with variable inversion. find linear...
The vertical structure of aerosols on Jupiter is inferred from data obtained by the NASA Galileo Solid State Imaging system during first six orbits spacecraft. Images at 889 nm (a strong methane band), 727 weaker and 756 (continuum) taken a variety lighting viewing angles are used. images displayed described in companion paper Vasavadaet al.(1998,Icarus135, 265–275). Conservative scattering cloud particles with laterally uniform single properties assumed analysis shown to be consistent these...