THEMIS observes possible cave skylights on Mars

Cushing, G. E.; Titus, T. N.; Wynne, J. Judson; Christensen, P. R.

doi:10.1029/2007gl030709

Cited by 138 publications

(105 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Holt et al 2008). The specific interest in lava tubes on Earth is motivated by their presence in volcanic, basaltic environments analogous to the geological context of lava tubes on Mars (Cushing et al 2007;Williams et al 2010). On Mars, lava tubes provide a natural way to access the deep subsurface.…”

Section: Lava Tubes and Cavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earth as a Tool for Astrobiology—A European Perspective

et al. 2017

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Scientists use the Earth as a tool for astrobiology by analyzing planetary field analogues (i.e. terrestrial samples and field sites that resemble planetary bodies in our Solar System). In addition, they expose the selected planetary field analogues in simulation chambers to conditions that mimic the ones of planets, moons and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space conditions, as well as the chemistry occurring in interstellar and cometary ices. This paper reviews the ways the Earth is used by astrobiologists: (i) by conducting planetary field analogue studies to investigate extant life from extreme environments, its metabolisms, adaptation strategies and modern biosignatures; (ii) by conducting planetary field analogue studies to investigate extinct life from the oldest rocks on our planet and its biosignatures; (iii) by exposing terrestrial samples to simulated space or planetary environments and producing a sample analogue to investigate changes in minerals, biosignatures and microorganisms. The European Space Agency (ESA) created a topical team in 2011 to investigate recent activities using the Earth as a tool for astrobiology and to formulate recommendations and scientific needs to improve ground-based astrobiological research. Space is an important tool for astrobiology (see Horneck et al. in Astrobiology, 16:201-243, 2016;Cottin et al., 2017), but access to space is limited. Complementing research on Earth provides fast access, more replications and higher sample throughput. The major conclusions of the topical team and suggestions for the future include more scientifically qualified calls for field campaigns with planetary analogy, and a centralized point of contact at ESA or the EU for the organization of a survey of such expeditions. An improvement of the coordinated logistics, infrastructures and funding system supporting the combination of field work with planetary simulation investigations, as well as an optimization of the scientific return and data processing, data storage and data distribution is also needed. Finally, a coordinated EU or ESA education and outreach program would improve the participation of the public in the astrobiological activities.

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Section: Lava Tubes and Cavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earth as a Tool for Astrobiology—A European Perspective

et al. 2017

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“…For broad-scale prospecting, airborne-or satellite-based remote sensing is necessary. Because caves have a more stable temperature than the surface environment, there has been an effort to use thermal remote sensing on earth (Griffith, 2000) and on other planets (Cushing et al, 2007;Wynne et al, 2008) to detect cave openings. Though a temperature gradient of 7.2 uC was detected on the ground 50 to 100 m away from cave openings in Belize (Griffith, 2001), this method is challenging, given the coarse resolution of most satellite thermal sensors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection and Morphologic Analysis of Potential Below-Canopy Cave Openings in the Karst Landscape around the Maya Polity of Caracol using Airborne Lidar

Weishampel¹,

Hightower²,

Chase³

et al. 2011

JCKS

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Locating caves can be difficult, as their entranceways are often obscured below vegetation. Recently, active remote-sensing technologies, in particular laser-based sensor systems (LiDARs), have demonstrated the ability to penetrate dense forest canopies to reveal the underlying ground topography. An airborne LiDAR system was used to generate a 1 m resolution, bare-earth digital elevation model (DEM) from an archaeologically-and speleologically-rich area of western Belize near the ancient Maya site of Caracol. Using a simple index to detect elevation gradients in the DEM, we identified depressions with at least a 10 m change within a circular area of no more than 25 m radius. Across 200 km 2 of the karst landscape, we located 61 depressions. Sixty of these had not been previously documented; the other was a cave opening known from a previous expedition. The morphologies of the depressions were characterized based on the LiDAR-derived DEM parameters, e.g., depth, opening area, and perimeter. We also investigated how the measurements change as a function of spatial resolution. Though there was a range of morphologies, most depressions were clustered around an average maximum depth of 21 m and average opening diameter of 15 m. Five depression sites in the general vicinity of the Caracol epicenter were visited; two of these were massive, with opening diameters of ,50 m, two could not be explored for lack of climbing gear, and one site was a cave opening into several chambers with speleothems and Maya artifacts. Though further investigation is warranted to determine the archaeological and geological significance of the remaining depressions, the general methodology represents an important advancement in cave detection.

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“…They also provide a model system of a biomat that might occur on the interiors of various cave types on Mars. Lavatubes have been identified on Mars [4], and more recently confirmed in a more elaborate study [12]. Mechanisms to create solutional caves in evaporite mineral deposits on Mars have also been proposed [5].…”

Section: Biovermiculationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation, Modeling, and Simulation of Patterned Growth in Extreme Environments

Strader¹,

Schubert

Quintana³

et al. 2011

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

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In the search for life on Mars and other extraterrestrial bodies or in our attempts to identify biological traces in the most ancient rock record of Earth, one of the biggest problems facing us is how to recognize life or the remains of ancient life in a context very different from our planet's modern biological examples. Specific chemistries or biological properties may well be inapplicable to extraterrestrial conditions or ancient Earth environments. Thus, we need to develop an arsenal of techniques that are of broader applicability. The notion of patterning created in some fashion by biological processes and properties may provide such a generalized property of biological systems no matter what the incidentals of chemistry or environmental conditions. One approach to recognizing these kinds of patterns is to look at apparently organized arrangements created and left by life in extreme environments here on Earth, especially at various spatial scales, different geologies, and biogeochemical circumstances.

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THEMIS observes possible cave skylights on Mars

Cited by 138 publications

References 20 publications

Earth as a Tool for Astrobiology—A European Perspective

Earth as a Tool for Astrobiology—A European Perspective

Detection and Morphologic Analysis of Potential Below-Canopy Cave Openings in the Karst Landscape around the Maya Polity of Caracol using Airborne Lidar

Estimation, Modeling, and Simulation of Patterned Growth in Extreme Environments

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