Geological Evolution of Major Shield Volcanoes on the Moon Using Contemporary Lunar Mission Datasets

About the role

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

Description

Description and objective: Volcanism has played a significant role in the crustal and thermal evolution of the Moon. Major effusive volcanism created the mare basins ~3.8 to 3.4 Ga ago. The mare basalts are erupted through fissures as effusive flows along with minor explosive pyroclastic volcanism. In contrast to mare plains volcanism, Spudis et al., (2013) identified topographic rises in the lunar maria and proposed that these regions represented shield volcanoes on the Moon. These authors identified a total of eight shield volcanoes on the near side of the Moon based on topographic and structural features. Only a few of these volcanoes have detailed compositional, structural, and morphological analyses using recent higher resolution and hyperspectral datasets. As a part of this effort, the candidate will study these shield volcanoes and compare the geological differences among them, including Rümker, Gardner, Prinz, Aristarchus, Kepler, Hortensius, Marius Hills, and Cauchy features. Data sets: To understand the volcanic history, composition, and thermophysical properties of the material present in the shields, the candidate will use LRO Diviner Thermal data, and Chandrayaan-1 Moon Mineralogy mapper data. To study morphology and topography, the candidate will use the LROC Narrow Angle Camera, wide angle camera, and LOLA SLDEM data.

Methodology

To investigate detailed compositional variability, the candidate will generate Integrated Band Depth (IBD) parameter map to identify different basaltic flow units within the shields. They will derive reflectance spectra from the identified units and will calculate their band parameters as per to derive detailed variation in the mineralogical abundances within the shield basalts. Based on previous laboratory analysis, the candidate will plot those values for final derivation of the mafic mineralogy present within the area. To understand topography, morphology and structure, the candidate will generate high resolution 3D topographic maps using NAC, WAC and LOLA data from LRO mission and map the structures within the area to understand tectonics and evolution combined with composition.

Field of Science

- Planetary Science

Advisors

Applications from citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted at this time, unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States. A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control.

Eligibility

• U.S. Citizens;
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR);
• Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status;
• Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with 1) a valid EAD card and 2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status

Questions

Please email npp@orau.org

Qualifications

The ideal applicant has experience working with lunar data sets, including LROC datasets, Clementine, and Moon Mineralogy Mapper.

Pay

N/A

Schedule

N/A

Benefits

N/A

Application Instructions

A complete application to the NASA Postdoctoral Program includes:

• Research proposal
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official doctoral transcript documents

Please visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for application instructions and requirements.