Search Publications
Ross Ice Shelf response to climate driven by the tectonic imprint on seafloor bathymetry
Tinto, K. J.; Padman, L.; Siddoway, C. S. +28 more
Ocean melting has thinned Antarctica's ice shelves at an increasing rate over the past two decades, leading to loss of grounded ice. The Ross Ice Shelf is currently close to steady state but geological records indicate that it can disintegrate rapidly, which would accelerate grounded ice loss from catchments equivalent to 11.6 m of global sea leve…
Lunar soil hydration constrained by exospheric water liberated by meteoroid impacts
Stubbs, T. J.; Elphic, R. C.; Benna, M. +2 more
Analyses of samples from the Apollo missions suggest that the Moon formed devoid of native water. However, recent observations by Cassini, Deep Impact, Lunar Prospector and Chandrayaan-1 indicate the existence of an active water cycle on the Moon. Here we report observations of this water cycle, specifically detections of near-surface water releas…
Independent confirmation of a methane spike on Mars and a source region east of Gale Crater
Cardesín-Moinelo, Alejandro; Marín-Yaseli de la Parra, Julia; Aoki, Shohei +11 more
Reports of methane detection in the Martian atmosphere have been intensely debated. The presence of methane could enhance habitability and may even be a signature of life. However, no detection has been confirmed with independent measurements. Here, we report a firm detection of 15.5 ± 2.5 ppb by volume of methane in the Martian atmosphere above G…
A deep groundwater origin for recurring slope lineae on Mars
Heggy, Essam; Abotalib, Abotalib Z.
The recurring slope lineae on Mars have been hypothesized to originate from snow melting, deliquescence, dry flow or shallow groundwater. Except for the dry flow origin, these hypotheses imply the presence of surficial or near-surface volatiles, placing the exploration and characterization of potential habitable environments within the reach of ex…
Surface refreshing of Martian moon Phobos by orbital eccentricity-driven grain motion
Fujimoto, Masaki; Ballouz, Ronald-Louis; Baresi, Nicola +2 more
The surface of the Martian moon Phobos exhibits two distinct geologic units, red and blue, characterized by their spectral slopes. The provenance of these units is uncertain yet crucial to understanding the origin of the Martian moon and its interaction with the space environment. Here we present a combination of dynamical analyses and numerical s…
Bilobate comet morphology and internal structure controlled by shear deformation
Jorda, L.; Lamy, P. L.; Lara, L. M. +45 more
Bilobate comets—small icy bodies with two distinct lobes—are a common configuration among comets, but the factors shaping these bodies are largely unknown. Cometary nuclei, the solid centres of comets, erode by ice sublimation when they are sufficiently close to the Sun, but the importance of a comet's internal structure on its erosion is unclear.…