Staff Scientist
Lunar and Planetary Institute
3600 Bay Area Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77058
kiefer@lpi.usra.edu
Office (281) 486-2110
Fax (281) 486-2162
I study the geophysical evolution of Mars, Venus, and the Moon. I also participate in educational outreach programs that communicate the results of NASA's solar system exploration program to teachers, students, and the general public.
My research activities are in the field of planetary geophysics. I develop computer simulations of mantle convection in the interiors of planets. I also analyze observations of planets made by NASA spacecraft, particularly measurements of planetary gravity and topography and images of surface features. My goal is to combine models and observations in order to understand the current internal structure of Mars, Venus, the Moon, and Earth, as well as the processes that have controlled the evolution of these planets.
Mantle convection is
a type of viscous fluid flow inside a planet that
transports heat from the interior to the surface. On Earth, mantle
convection causes plate tectonics, volcanism, and earthquakes.
Mantle convection is also important on Venus and Mars.
This page describes mantle convection in greater detail with the
help of color figures.
My models of mantle convection on
Mars constrain the conditions in the martian
mantle required to permit volcanism to occur on present-day Mars.
My models of the gravity anomalies at several large highland volcanos on Mars
reveal the presence of buried, high density bodies that are best interpreted
as cumulate minerals in extinct magma chambers.
These models provide our first look at the magmatic plumbing of Mars.
My studies of Venus focus on the
relationship between mantle convection and surface features, such
as large shield volcanos, rift zones, and coronae.
The results of these studies demonstrate the dynamic nature of the
interior of Venus.
In addition to my research work, I am also involved in a number of educational outreach programs at LPI. These include:
I have served as an instructor for many professional development workshops for middle school and high school science teachers. These workshops combine field trips to volcanic, tectonic, fluvial and impact structures in the western United States with classroom instruction on how the field sites relate to NASA's planetary geology exploration program. Recent examples include:
- Floods and Flows: Exploring Mars Geology on Earth (July 2008)
- Earth's Extremophiles: Implications for Life in the Solar System (July 2007)
- The Heat From Within: Earthly Insights into Planetary Volcanism (July 2006)
- Life at the Limits: Earth, Mars, and Beyond (July 2005)
- Floods and Flows: Exploring Mars Geology on Earth (July 2004)
- The Great Desert: Geology and Life on Mars and in the Southwest (July 2003)
Mars Inside and Out is a collection of inquiry-based activities that explore the
various processes that have shaped the surface of Mars, including volcanism, impact
cratering, and flowing water. The activities are designed for use by upper elementary
and middle school students in informal education settings such as libraries, but also
include links to national science education standards to facilitate classroom use.
The Red Planet: A Survey of Mars, compiled by Walter S. Kiefer, Allan H.
Treiman and Stephen M. Clifford (Lunar and Planetary Institute, Second
Edition, 1997).
This set of 40 images and captions provides an overview of our
understanding of Mars.
Other LPI Image Collections
Exploring the Solar System is a
science enrichment course for developed at LPI for gifted and talented 5th and
6th grade students in Houston-area school districts. From 1994 to 2003, I served as one
of the principal instructors and
curriculum developers for this program.
Some Interesting Web Sites
- LPI's Lunar Science and Exploration website is a great starting point for locating information about the Moon.
- Phoenix has begun its exploration of the north polar region of Mars.
- The Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity are continuing their travels across the martian surface.
- The Cassini spacecraft is continuing its study of Titan, Enceladus, and the Saturn system.
- The Hubble Space Telescope continues to produce amazing images.
- Check out NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day.
- NASA Human Spaceflight: Find out what is happening on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station.
- Take a tour of the Solar System.
- You can even view the planets in 3 dimensions.
- What's up in tonight's sky? Find out with StarDate's sky almanac.
- I also maintain a longer listing of sites related to Planetary Science, Astronomy, Space Flight, and Science Education as part of the Lunar and Planetary Institute's website.
LPI Science Staff Page
LPI Home Page
Walter S. Kiefer,
kiefer@lpi.usra.edu
