Dr. Patrick J. McGovern
Dr. Patrick J. McGovern

Senior Staff Scientist

[email protected]
  |   281-486-2187

(* indicates Science “Editor’s Choice” selection, § indicates Nature Geoscience “Research Highlight”).

Publications

  • O’Hara, S., P. J. McGovern and D. vonLembke, Magma Chamber Depressurization and the Creation of Concentric Graben and Late-stage Flow Units at Sapas Mons, Venus. J. Geophys. Res., in revision, 2024.
  • McGovern, P. J., Tectonics caused by surface loads, in Tectonism Across the Solar System (P. Byrne, G. Collins, C. Klimczak eds.), Elsevier, in press, 2024.
  • McGovern, P. J. and Nguyen, A. L., The role of Pluto’s ocean’s salinity in supporting nitrogen ice loads within the Sputnik Planitia basin. Icarus, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2024.115968, 2024.
  • McGovern, P. J., O. L. White and P. M. Schenk, Tectonism and Enhanced Cryovolcanic Potential Around a Loaded Sputnik Planitia Basin, Pluto, J. Geophys. Res., 126, e2021JE006964. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JE006964, 2021.
  • (60). McGovern, P., Venus: A Natural Volcanological Laboratory. Bulletin of the AAS, 53(4). https://doi.org/10.3847/25c2cfeb.6da02490, 2021.
  • Stern, S. A., O. L. White, P. J. McGovern, J. T. Keane, J. W. Conrad, C. J. Bierson, C. B. Olkin, P. Schenk, J. M. Moore and K. Runyon, Pluto’s Far Side, Icarus, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2020.113805, 2020.
  • Le Corvec, N., and P. J. McGovern, The Effect of Ocean Loading on the Growth of Basaltic Island Volcanoes and Their Magmatic Plumbing System, Frontiers in Earth Science, doi: 10.3389/feart.2018.00119, 2018.
  • Andrews-Hanna, J. C., J. W. Head, B. Johnson, J. T. Keane, W. S. Kiefer, P. J. McGovern, G. A. Neumann, M. A. Wieczorek, and M. T. Zuber, Ring faults and ring dikes around the Orientale basin on the Moon, Icarus, 310, 1-20, 2018.
  • Corley, L., P. J. McGovern, G. Y. Kramer, M. Lemelin, D. Trang, J. J. Gillis-Davis, G. J. Taylor, K. E. Powell, W. S. Kiefer, M. Wieczorek, and M. T. Zuber, Olivine-bearing lithologies on the Moon: Constraints on origins and transport mechanisms from M3 spectroscopy, radiative transport modeling, and GRAIL crustal thickness, Icarus, 300, 287-304, 2018.
  • Zuber, M. T., D. E. Smith, G. A. Neumann, S. Goossens, J. C. Andrews-Hanna, J. W. Head, W. S. Kiefer, S.W. Asmar, A. S. Konopliv, F. G. Lemoine, I. Matsuyama, H. J. Melosh, P. J. McGovern, F. Nimmo, R. J. Phillips, S. C. Solomon, G. J. Taylor, M. M. Watkins, M. A. Wieczorek, J. G. Williams, J. C. Jansen, B. C. Johnson, J. T. Keane, E. Mazarico, K. Miljković, R. S. Park, J. M. Soderblom, and D.-N. Yuan, Gravity Field of the Orientale Basin from the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) Mission, Science, 354, 438-440, 2016.
  • McGovern, P. J., M. Kirchoff, O. L. White and P. M. Schenk, Magma ascent pathways associated with large mountains on Io, Icarus, 272, 246-257, 2016.
  • Chadwick, J., P. McGovern, M. Simpson, and A. Reeves, Late Amazonian subsidence and magmatism of Olympus Mons, Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 120, doi:10.1002/2015JE004875, 2015.
  • Le Corvec, N., P. J. McGovern, E. B. Grosfils, and G. Galgana, Effects of crustal-scale mechanical layering on magma chamber failure and magma propagation within the Venusian lithosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 120, 1279–1297, doi:10.1002/2015JE004814, 2015.
  • Byrne, P. K., C. Klimczak, P. J. McGovern, E. Mazarico, P. B. James, G. A. Neumann, M. T. Zuber, and S. C. Solomon, Deep-seated thrust faults bound the Mare Crisium lunar mascon, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 427, 183-190, 2015.
  • McGovern, P. J., E. B. Grosfils, G. A. Galgana, J. K. Morgan, M. E. Rumpf, J. R. Smith, and J. R. Zimbelman, Lithospheric flexure and volcano basal boundary conditions: keys to the structural evolution of large volcanic edifices on the terrestrial planets, in Platz, T., Massironi, M., Byrne, P. K. & Hiesinger, H. (eds) Volcanism and Tectonism Across the Inner Solar System. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 401, http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP401.7, 2015.
  • Grosfils, E. B., P. J. McGovern, P. M. Gregg, G. A. Galgana, D. M. Hurwitz, S. M. Long, and S. R. Chestler, Elastic Models of Magma Reservoir Mechanics: A Key Tool for Investigating Planetary Volcanism, in Platz, T., Massironi, M., Byrne, P. K. & Hiesinger, H. (eds) Volcanism and Tectonism Across the Inner Solar System. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 401, doi:10.1144/SP401.2, 2015.
  • Andrews-Hanna, J. C., J. Besserer, J. W. Head III, C. J. A. Howett, W. S. Kiefer, P. J. Lucey, P. J. McGovern, H. J. Melosh, G. A. Neumann, R. J. Phillips, P. M. Schenk, D. E. Smith, S. C. Solomon, and M. T. Zuber, Structure and evolution of the lunar Procellarum region as revealed by GRAIL gravity data, Nature, 514, 68-71, 2014.
  • Besserer, J., F. Nimmo, M. A. Wieczorek, R. C. Weber, W. S. Kiefer, P. J. McGovern, J. C. Andrews-Hanna, D. E. Smith, and M. T. Zuber, GRAIL gravity constraints on the vertical and lateral density structure of the lunar crust, Geophys. Res. Lett., 41, 5771-5777, 2014.
  • Weller, M. B., P. J. McGovern, T. Fournier, and J. K. Morgan, Eastern Olympus Mons Basal Scarp and Aureole Lobes: Structural and Mechanical Evidence for Large Scale Slope Instability, J. Geophys. Res., 119, doi:10.1002/2013JE004524, 2014.
  • Öhman, T., and P. J. McGovern, Circumferential graben and the structural evolution of Alba Mons, Mars, Icarus, 233, 114-125, 2014.
  • McGovern, P. J., G. A. Galgana, K. R. Verner, and R. R. Herrick, New constraints on volcano-tectonic evolution of large edifices on Venus from stereo topography-derived strain estimates, Geology, 42, 59-62, 2014.
  • McGovern, P. J., M. E. Rumpf, and J. R. Zimbelman, The influence of lithospheric flexure on magma ascent at large volcanoes on Venus, J. Geophys. Res., 118, doi:10.1002/2013JE004455, 2013.
  • Potter, R. W. K., D. A. Kring, G. S. Collins, W. S. Kiefer, and P. J. McGovern, Numerical modeling of the formation and structure of the Orientale impact basin, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1002/jgre.20080, 2013.
  • Galgana, G. A., E. B. Grosfils, and P. J. McGovern, Radial Dike Formation on Venus: Insights from Models of Uplift, Flexure and Magmatism, Icarus, 225, 538-547, 2013.
  • Spudis, P. D., P. J. McGovern and W. S. Kiefer, Large shield volcanoes on the Moon, J. Geophys. Res., 118, doi:10.1002/jgre.20059, 2013.
  • Andrews-Hanna, J. C., S. W. Asmar, J. W. Head III, W. S. Kiefer, A. S. Konopliv, F. G. Lemoine, I. Matsuyama, E. Mazarico, P. J. McGovern, H. J. Melosh, G. A. Neumann, F. Nimmo, R. J. Phillips, D. E. Smith, S. C. Solomon, G. J. Taylor, M. A. Wieczorek, J. G. Williams, and M. T. Zuber, Ancient Igneous Intrusions and Early Expansion of the Moon revealed by GRAIL gravity gradiometry, Science, 339, 675, 2013.
  • Potter, R. W. K., D. A. Kring, G. S. Collins, W. S. Kiefer, and P. J. McGovern, Estimating transient crater radius using the annular crustal bulge: Insights from numerical modeling of lunar basin-scale impacts, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, doi:10.1029/2012GL052981, 2012.
  • Schwenzer, S. P., O. Abramov, C. C. Allen, J. C. Bridges, S. M. Clifford, J. Filiberto, D. A. Kring, J. Lasue, P. J. McGovern, H. E. Newsom, A. H. Treiman, D. T. Vaniman, R. C. Wiens and A. Wittmann, Gale Crater: Formation and Post-Impact Hydrous Environments, Planet. Space Sci., 84-95, doi:10.1016/j.pss.2012.05.014, 2012.
  • Schwenzer, S. P., O. Abramov, C. C. Allen, S. M. Clifford, C.S. Cockell, J. Filiberto, D. A. Kring, J. Lasue, P. J. McGovern, H. E. Newsom, A. H. Treiman, D. T. Vaniman, and R. C. Wiens, Puncturing Mars: How impact craters interact with the Martian cryosphere forming liquid water and alteration products, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 335-336, 9-17, 2012.
  • Potter, R. W. K., Collins, G. S., Kiefer, W. S., McGovern, P. J., and Kring, D. A., Constraining the size of the South Pole-Aitken Basin Impact, Icarus, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2012.05.032, 2012.
  • Sandu, C., A. Lenardic, and P. McGovern, The effects of volatile cycling on planetary thermal evolution, J. Geophys. Res., 116, doi:10.1029/2011JB008405, 2011.
  • Ruiz, J., P. J. McGovern, A. Jiménez-Díaz, V. López, J.-P. Williams, B. C. Hahn, and R. Tejero, The thermal evolution of Mars as constrained by paleo-heat flows, Icarus, 215, 508-517, 2011.
  • §Galgana, G. A., P. J. McGovern and E. B. Grosfils, Evolution of large Venusian volcanoes: Insights from coupled models of lithospheric flexure and magma reservoir pressurization, J. Geophys. Res., 116, doi:10.1029/2010JE003654, 2011.
  • Clifford, S. M., et al., The Depth of the Martian Cryosphere: Revised Estimates and Implications for the Existence and Detection of Subpermafrost Groundwater, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2009JE003462, 2010.
  • Galgana, G. A., McGovern, P. J., and Grosfils, E. B., Coupled Models of Lithospheric Flexure and Magma Chamber Pressurization at Large Volcanoes on Venus, Proceedings of the 2009 COMSOL Multiphysics Conference, October 8-10, 2009, Boston MA.
  • Monsalve, G., P. McGovern, and A. Sheehan, Mantle fault zones beneath the Himalayan collision: flexure of the continental lithosphere, Tectonophysics, 477, (special issue on “Continental Collision, Partial Melting and Ductile Deformation in the Tibetan-Himalayan Orogenic Belt”), 66-76, 2009.
  • McGovern, P. J., and J. K. Morgan, Volcanic spreading and lateral variations in the structure of Olympus Mons, Mars, Geology, 37, 139-142, 2009.
  • *McGovern, P. J., Flexural stresses beneath Hawaii: Implications for the October 15, 2006 earthquakes and magma ascent, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L23305, doi:10.1029/2007GL031305, 2007.
  • Watters, T. R., P. J. McGovern, and R. P. Irwin III, Hemispheres Apart: The Crustal Dichotomy on Mars, Annual Reviews, 35, 621–52, 2007.
  • Watters, T. R., and P. J. McGovern, Lithospheric flexure and the evolution of the dichotomy boundary on Mars, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L08S05, 2006.
  • Watters, T. R., and P. J. McGovern, Introduction to special section: The Hemispheric Dichotomy on Mars, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L08S01, 2006.
  • Ruiz, J., R. Tejero, and P. J. McGovern Evidence for a differentiated crust at Solis Planum, Mars, from lithospheric strength and heat flow, Icarus, 180, 308–313, 2006.
  • Ruiz, J., P. J. McGovern, and R. Tejero, The early thermal and magnetic state of the cratered highlands of Mars, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 241, 2–10, 2006.
  • Solomon, S. C., et al., New Perspectives on Ancient Mars, Science, 37, 1214–1220, 2005.
  • Watters, T. R., and P. J. McGovern, Hemispheres Apart: the Martian Crustal Dichotomy, EOS Trans. AGU, 86, 46–47, 2005.
  • Morgan, J. K., and P. J. McGovern, Discrete element simulations of gravitational volcanic deformation: 1. Deformation structures and geometries, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2004JB003252, 2005.
  • Morgan, J. K., and P. J. McGovern, Discrete element simulations of gravitational volcanic deformation: 2. Mechanical analysis, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2004JB003253, 2005.
  • Herrick, R. R., J. Dufek, and P. J. McGovern, The evolution of large shield volcanoes on Venus, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2004JE002283, 2005.
  • *McGovern, P. J., J. R. Smith, J. K. Morgan and M. H. Bulmer, The Olympus Mons aureole deposits: New evidence for a flank-failure origin, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/ 2004JE002258, 2004.
  • McGovern, P. J., et al., Correction to “Localized gravity/topography admittance and correlation spectra on Mars: Implications for regional and global evolution”, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2004JE002286, 2004.
  • Neumann, G. A., M. T. Zuber, M. A. Wieczorek, P. J. McGovern, F. G. Lemoine, and D. E. Smith, The crustal structure of Mars from gravity and topography, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2004JE002262, 2004.
  • Stepinski, T. F., M. L. Collier, P. J. McGovern, and S. M. Clifford, Martian geomorphology from fractal analysis of drainage networks, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2003JE002098, 2004.
  • McGovern, P. J., et al ., Localized gravity/topography admittance and correlation spectra on Mars: Implications for regional and global evolution, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2002JE001854, 2002.
  • Stepinski, T. F., M. M. Marinova, P. J. McGovern, and S. M. Clifford, Fractal analysis of drainage basins on Mars, Geophys. Res. Lett., doi: 10.1029/2002GL014666, 2002.
  • McGovern, P. J., S. C. Solomon, J. W. Head, D. E. Smith, M. T. Zuber, and G. A. Neumann, Extension and uplift at Alba Patera, Mars: Insights from MOLA observations and loading models, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 23, 769-23,809, 2001.
  • Smith, D. E., et al., Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter: Experiment summary after the first year of global mapping of Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 23, 689-23, 722, 2001.
  • Herrick, R. R., and P. J. McGovern, Kunhild and Ereshkigal, an extinct hot-spot region on Venus, Geophys. Res. Lett., 27, 839–842, 2000.
  • Zuber, M. T., et al., Internal structure and early thermal evolution of Mars from Mars Global Surveyor topography and gravity, Science, 287, 1788–1793, 2000.
  • Smith, D. E., et al., The global topography of Mars and implications for surface evolution, Science, 284, 1495–1503, 1999.
  • McGovern, P. J., and S. C. Solomon, Growth of large volcanoes on Venus: Mechanical models and implications for structural evolution, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 11,071-11,101, 1998.
  • McGovern, P. J., and S. C. Solomon, Filling of flexural moats around large volcanoes on Venus: Implications for volcano structure and global magmatic flux, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 16,303-16,318, 1997.
  • McGovern, P. J., and S. C. Solomon, State of stress, faulting, and eruption characteristics of large volcanoes on Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 98, 23,553-23,579, 1993.
  • McGovern, P. J., and G. Schubert, Thermal evolution of the Earth: Effects of volatile exchange between atmosphere and interior, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 96, 27–37, 1989.

SELECTED ABSTRACTS

  • G. S. Collins, R. W. K. Potter, D. A. Kring, W. S. Kiefer, P. J. McGovern, Modelling the South Pole-Aitken Basin Impact, Nördlingen 2010: The Ries Crater, the Moon, and the Future of Human Space Exploration, abstract 7023, 2010.
  • Buz, J., and P. McGovern, Venusian volcano shapes: Implications for edifice evolution and the internal thermal state of Venus, Lunar Planet. Sci., 41, 1482, 2010.
  • Wilkinson, M. J., and McGovern, P. J., Megafans and Paleo-megafans in Amazonis and Northwest Tharsis: Implicatons for Fluvial Processes, Surface Geology, and Spreading of the Olympus Mons Volcano, Lunar Planet. Sci., 41, abstract 2253, 2010.
  • McGovern, P. J., J. K. Morgan, J. R. Smith, and M. A. Higbie, New models of volcanic spreading and implications for azimuthal variations in the structure of Olympus Mons, Mars, 7th Int. Conf. Mars, abstract 3397, 2007.
  • McGovern, P. J., and M. E. Rumpf, Implications of volcanic edifice shapes and structures for the volcanological and thermal evolution of Venus, Lunar Planet. Sci., 38, 2387, 2007.
  • McGovern, P. J., Hawaiian earthquakes of October 15, 2006: Caused by stresses from flexure of a layered lithosphere?, AGU Fall Meeting 2006, abstract submitted on Nov. 9, 2006 to late-breaking session on the Kiholo Bay earthquake.
  • Cull, S.C., and P. J. McGovern, Evidence for Extensive Fluvial Erosion around Olympus Mons: A Multi-Resolution Survey, Lunar Planet. Sci., 36, abstract 1154, 2005.
  • McGovern, P. J., J. R. Smith, J. K. Morgan, and M. Bulmer, The Olympus Mons aureole deposits: New evidence for a flank failure origin, Lunar Planet. Sci., 35, abstract 1980, 2004.
  • Chittenden, D. and P. J. McGovern, The Olympus Mons aureole deposits: Constraints on emplacement scenarios based on remotely-sensed data, Lunar Planet. Sci., 35, abstract 2074, 2004.
  • McGovern, P. J., and T. R. Watters, Loading-induced stresses near the Martian Hemispheric Dichotomy Boundary, Lunar Planet. Sci., 35, abstract 2148, 2004.
  • McGovern, P. J., J. R. Smith, J. K. Morgan, and M. Bulmer, Olympus Mons aureole deposits and basal scarp: Structural characteristics and implications for flank failure scenarios, Lunar Planet. Sci., 34, abstract 2080, 2003.
  • Morgan, J. K., and P. J. McGovern, Discrete element simulations of volcanic spreading: Implications for the structure of Olympus Mons, Lunar Planet. Sci., 34, abstract 2088, 2003.
  • McGovern, P. J., The Influence of flexural stress on magma ascent and volcano growth: Applications to Galápagos volcanoes and planetary analogues, AGU Fall Meeting, Abstract T21D-06, 2002.
  • McGovern, P. J., Interpretations of Gravity Anomalies at Olympus Mons, Mars: Intrusions, Impact Basins, and Troughs, Lunar Planet. Sci., 33, abstract 2024, 2002.
  • McGovern, P. J., and S. C. Solomon, Effect of basal sediment composition on the structure and evolution of oceanic intraplate volcanoes, Eos Trans. AGU, 77, Fall Meet. Suppl., F810, 1996.
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