Geomorphological Analysis of Terrains on Earth and Mars

Principal Investigator: Dr. Dubayah

As a Faculty Research Assistant, Mr. Yates' research activities will encompass an investigation of aspects of the geomorphology of both Mars and Earth facilitated by means of newly available datasets derived from orbital laser altimetry. A quantitative statistical analysis of the spatial patterns of laser-altimeter derived vertical roughness of desert terrains on Earth will be undertaken in order to explore correlations between this new geomorphic parameter and local slopes and multispectral landcover signatures. Comparisons of laser altimeter derived vertical roughness for terrestrial deserts with data derived for the planet Mars from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) experiment aboard the Mars Global Surveyor will be accomplishedas part of this investigation in order to develop roughness signatures for process-related landscapes on both planets.

The proposed investigation will primarily involve datasets developed from observations taken by the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) and the Shuttle Laser Altimeter (SLA). Mr. Yates will play a key role in the continuing studies of sub-kilometer scale geomorphic processes on Mars and Earth that are part of NASA-supported investigations under the leadership of Dr. James B. Garvin of NASA's GSFC (and Chief Scientist for the Shuttle Laser Altimeter and a Co-Investigator on MOLA). The research associated with this assignment will directly support activities in terrestrial landcover and landscape spatial analysis involving advanced laser altimeter-based remote sensing that involves a direct collaboration between the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the Geography Department at the University of Maryland at College Park. Such collaborative studies are under the leadership of Prof R. Dubayah at UMCP and Dr. J. B. Garvin at NASA's GSFC. As part of his duties, it is proposed that J. Yates will develop IDL based codes for comparing spatial distributions of vertical roughness and landscape decorrelation length scales appropriate for intercomparisons of terrestrial hyperarid deserts and martian plains. In addition, it is expected that Mr. Yates would support the research activities of Prof. Dubayah and Dr. Garvin by attending, as needed, one or more topical conferences featuring landscape remote sensing of the Earth and Mars.