A. Deanne Rogers

My research involves the use of remote sensing techniques and laboratory spectroscopy to investigate planetary surface processes. Two areas of current focus are described below. A detailed description of current and past research may be found here.

Martian Stratigraphy and Composition  
The ancient highlands of Mars exhibit a diverse suite of morphologic features and surface lithologies, and are host to numerous concentrations of water-related minerals such as phyllosilicates, sulfates and oxides. Through site-specific, integrated spectral and geologic mapping, I am working to develop a stratigraphic, compositional and geologic framework for interpreting the style and duration of environmental conditions in which these various minerals formed. This work will contribute to current understanding of the volcanic, aqueous and sedimentary history of the martian crust and surface.

Example from previous work (above): High resolution data from the Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) and Mars Express Observatoire pour la Mineralogie, l'Eau, les Glaces et l'Activité (OMEGA) instruments show compositional stratification in the upper crust of Mars. Layers of bedrock containing ~25% olivine (red) are exposed in the walls of the Ares Vallis outflow channel, as well as in nearby impact crater ejecta [Rogers et al., 2005].

Infrared spectral characterization of sedimentary rocks and their constituent phases  The objectives of this research are to 1) characterize the mid-infrared spectral properties of chemically precipitated phases and matrix materials in sedimentary rocks as a function of composition and particle/crystal size, and 2) understand the mid-infrared spectral mixing behavior of sedimentary rocks and their constituents. Because rocks of sedimentary origin likely comprise a significant fraction of the martian surface, it is important to understand the spectral properties of these potentially complex mixtures and whether quantitative mineralogic composition of sedimentary rocks may be determined from mid-infrared spectra. A combination of microspectroscopic and optical imaging techniques, macroscale reflectance and emission spectroscopy, and in-situ X-Ray and electron microprobe analyses are used to address these objectives.

Selected Publications

Rogers, A. D. and J. L. Bandfield, Mineralogical Characterization of Mars Science Laboratory Candidate Landing Sites from THEMIS and TES Data, Icarus, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2009.04.020, 2009.

Rogers, A. D., O. Aharonson, and J. L. Bandfield, Geologic context of in situ rocky exposures in Mare Serpentis, Mars: Implications for crust and regolith evolution in the cratered highlands,Icarus, 200, 446-462, 2009.

Rogers, A. D. and O. Aharonson, Mineralogical composition of sands in Meridiani Planum determined from MER data and comparison to orbital measurements, J. Geophys. Res.--Planets, doi:10.1029/2007JE002995, 2008.

T. D. Glotch, and A. D. Rogers, Evidence for aqueous deposition of hematite and sulfate-rich light-toned layered deposits in Aureum and Iani Chaos, Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 112, E06001, doi:10.1029/2006JE002863, 2007.

Rogers, A. D., J. L. Bandfield, and P. R. Christensen, Global spectral classification of martian low-albedo regions with MGS-TES data, J. Geophys. Res.—Planets, 112, E02004, doi: 10.1029/2006JE002726, 2007.

Rogers, A. D., and P. R. Christensen, Surface mineralogy of martian low-albedo regions from MGS-TES data: Implications for crustal evolution and surface alteration, J. Geophys. Res.—Planets, 112, E01003, doi: 10.1029/2006JE002727, 2007.

Rogers, A. D., P. R. Christensen, and J. L. Bandfield, Compositional heterogeneity of the ancient martian crust: Surface analysis of Ares Vallis bedrock with THEMIS and TES data, J. Geophys. Res.—Planets, 110, doi:10.1029/2005JE002399, 2005.

Christensen, P. R., H. Y. McSween, Jr., J. L. Bandfield, S. W. Ruff, A. D. Rogers, V. E. Hamilton, N. Gorelick, M. B. Wyatt, B. M. Jakosky, H. H. Kieffer, M. C. Malin, and J. E. Moersch, Evidence for Igneous Diversity and Magmatic Evolution on Mars from Infrared Spectral Observations, Nature, doi:10.1038/nature03639, 2005.

Bandfield, J. L., D. Rogers, M. D. Smith, and P. R. Christensen, Atmospheric correction and surface spectral unit mapping techniques using Thermal Emission Imaging System data, J. Geophys. Res., 109, E10008, doi:10.1029/2004JE002289, 2004.

P. R. Christensen, M.B. Wyatt, T. D. Glotch, A. D. Rogers, R. E. Arvidson, J. L. Bandfield, D.L. Blaney, C. Budney, W. M. Calvin, R. L. Fergason, T.G. Graff, V.E. Hamilton, A. Hayes, J..R. Johnson, A.T. Knudson, H. Y. McSween, Jr., G. L. Mehall, L. K. Mehall, J.E. Moersch, R.V. Morris, M. D. Smith, S.W. Squyres, S. W. Ruff, and M.J. Wolff, Mineralogy at Meridiani Planum from the Mini-TES Experiment on the Opportunity Rover, Science, 306, 1733-1739, 2004.

Rogers, D. and P. R. Christensen, Age relationship of basaltic and andesitic surface compositions on Mars: Analysis of high-resolution TES observations of the northern hemisphere, J. Geophys. Res., 10.1029/2002JE001913, 2003.