EPS Colloquium – John Grotzinger, CalTech

The Early Aqueous Environment of Mars Inferred From Mission Lifetime Results by the Curiosity Rover at Gale Crater

In this talk I will discuss a summary of Mission results for the past 13 years of rover operations.

To be added to the EPS colloquium mailing list, please contact Caroline Carr at carolinecarr@fas.harvard.edu

John Grotzinger is a field geologist interested in the evolution of Earth’s surficial environments and biosphere. His research addresses the chemical development of the early oceans and atmosphere, the environmental context of early animal evolution, and the geologic factors that regulate sedimentary basins. In his studies, Grotzinger tries to create the basic geologic framework for sedimentary basins and orogenic belts in northwest Canada, northern Siberia, southern Africa, and the western United States. These field mapping studies are the starting point for more topical laboratory-based studies involving geochemical, paleontological, and geochronological techniques. Because Mars and Earth are thought to have had similar early climates and geologic conditions, Grotzinger’s work on the early Earth may help guide the analysis of early environments on Mars.