2010 Annual Research Report

 

Bleamaster is an off-site scientist in San Antonio, Texas where he performs geologic and geomorphic investigations of Mars and Venus and teaches geology at Trinity University.

 

On Mars, Bleamaster’s work centers on evaluating the current and past distribution of volatiles (particularly water) as recorded in the rock record.  His research involves broad-scale geologic and geomorphic investigation using remote data sets, as well as mineralogic signatures returned from orbiting and landed spacecraft.  Identifying the potential sources and sinks (or volatile reservoirs) and the nature of volatile migration through time may help to constrain climatic models of Mars. Arabia Terra and Hellas basin are the primary regions of interest.  

 

Mapping along the Arabia Terra Dichotomy (Marwth Vallis and Nili Fossae) is being performed using digital techniques in Arc GIS.  Frank Chuang has taken the lead on Mawrth Vallis, while Bleamaster has focused on Nili Fossae.  Each area contains vast exposures of phyllosilicate (clay-bearing) material, which are inter-bedded with other geologic units. These materials point to a long-lived volatile source that likely caused alteration of in situ materials.  Identifying the distribution and age of these deposits will help locate regions of suitable aqueous environments through time and may potential constrain the longevity of such volatile activity. Mawrth Vallis is one of the four finalist landing sites for MSL (Mars Science Laboratory).

 

In Hellas Planitia and the surrounding highlands (with D. Crown and S. Mest), Bleamaster is investigating crater morphology and distribution, and their respective interior deposits, to investigate the putative Hellas Lake hypothesis. A recent Planetary Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Research Program (PGGURP) summer intern mapped out various landforms (crater deposits), measured elevations, estimated the thickness of these deposits, and then performed a spatial analysis of the various factors reveling a series of three concentric zones around Hellas consistent with topographic benches identified by Crown et al (2005).

 

On Venus, Bleamaster uses Magellan and Venus Express data to map the Isabella (V-50) and Devana Chasma (V29) quadrangles. The identification of dramatically different styles of volcanic resurfacing may help constrain thermal evolution models and resurfacing rates on Venus.  In addition, Bleamaster is mapping Helen Planitia and Guinevere Planitia. Together, these areas represent nearly 1/4^th of the planet in the Beta-Atla-Themis region of Venus, an area with an anomalously high number of small and large volcanoes, some of which may be active today as indicated by thermal anomalies identified by the Venus Express orbiter.

 

Bleamaster also continues to work with PSI’s growing team of researchers and educators in the development and implementation of professional development workshops aimed at K-8 teachers in the southern Arizona. In 2010, PSI conducted six workshops in Tucson, AZ and began to distribute materials to Bleamaster in San Antonio for anticipated workshops in 2011. Crown (PI of WISER) and Bleamaster will further test this expansion process, which may open the door for other PSI researchers to implement similar programs in their hometown.

 

Papers:

Bleamaster III, L.F., and D.A. Crown (2010), Geologic Map of MTM -40277, -45277, -40272, and -45272 Quadrangles, Eastern Hellas Planitia Region of Mars. USGS Sci. Inv. Map #3096.

Bleamaster III, L.F., Tanaka, K.L., and Kelley, M., (2010) Abstracts of the Annual Meeting of Planetary Geologic Mappers, Flagstaff, Ariz.

 

Abstracts:

Bleamaster III, L.F. (2010). Geologic Mapping of the Beta-Atla-Themis (BAT) Region of Venus: Batting a Thousand? Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XLI, abstract 2408, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston (CD-ROM).

Bleamaster III, L.F., and F.C. Chuang (2010) Geologic Mapping of Mawrth Vallis and Nili Fossae, Mars. Abstract P51B-1429 presented at 2010 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, Calif., 13-17 Dec.

Bleamaster III, L.F. and D. A. Crown (2010) Geologic Mapping of the Nili Fossae Region of Mars: MTM Quadrangles 20287, 20282, 25287, 25282, 30287, 30282. Abstracts of the Annual Meeting of Planetary Geologic Mappers, Flagstaff, AZ, eds., L.F. Bleamaster III, K.L. Tanaka, and M.S. Kelley, NASA TM 2010.

Cañizo, T. L., S. W. Anderson, L. F. Bleamaster III, D. A. Crown, and L. A. Lebofsky (2010) Evaluation Strategies for Professional Development Workshops for K-8 Teachers at the Planetary Science Institute. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XLI, abstract 1164, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston (CD-ROM).

Chuang. F.C., and L. F. Bleamaster (2010) Geologic Mapping of the Mawrth Vallis Rgion, Mars: MTM Quadrangles 25022, 25017, 25012, 20022, 20017, and 20012. Abstracts of the Annual Meeting of Planetary Geologic Mappers, Flagstaff, AZ, eds., L.F. Bleamaster III, K.L. Tanaka, and M.S. Kelley, NASA TM 2010.

Condit, C.B., L.F. Bleamaster, D.A. Crown, and S.C. Mest (2010) Spatial Analyses of Impact Craters Around Hellas Planitia, Mars: Implications for Fluvial and Lacustrine Environments. Abstract P51A-1415 presented at 2010 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, Calif., 13-17 Dec.

Crown, D.A., L.F. Bleamaster III, S.C. Mest, and J.F. Mustard (2010) Geologic Mapping of the NW Rim of Hellas basin, Mars: Evidence for an Ancient Buried Landscape. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XLI, abstract 1888, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston (CD-ROM).

Crown, D.A., L.F. Bleamaster III, S.C. Mest, J.F. Mustard, and M. Vincendon (2010) Evidence for an Ancient Buried Landscape on the NW Rim of Hellas basin, Mars: Abstracts of the Annual Meeting of Planetary Geologic Mappers, Flagstaff, AZ, eds., L.F. Bleamaster III, K.L. Tanaka, and M.S. Kelley, NASA TM 2010.

LebofskyL. A., S. W. Anderson, L. F. Bleamaster, T. L. Cañizo, S. K. Croft, D. A. Crown, S. Kortenkamp, and E. Pierazzo (2010) Professional Development Workshops for K-8 Teachers at the Planetary Science Institute. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XLI, abstract 1192, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston (CD-ROM).

Tandberg, E.R, and L.F. Bleamaster III (2010) Geologic Mapping of the Devana Chasma (V-29) Quadrangle, Venus: Preliminary Report. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XLI, abstract 1816, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston (CD-ROM).

Tandberg, E.R, and L.F. Bleamaster III (2010) Geologic Mapping of the Devana Chasma (V-29) Quadrangle: Venus. Abstracts of the Annual Meeting of Planetary Geologic Mappers, Flagstaff, AZ, eds., L.F. Bleamaster III, K.L. Tanaka, and M.S. Kelley, NASA TM 2010.

Wyrick D. Y., D. L. Buczkowski, L. F. Bleamaster, and G. C. Collins (2010) Pit Crater Chains Across the Solar System. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XLI, abstract 1413, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston (CD-ROM).