Mars
Most of my work on Mars has involved its evolution and interior. For instance, why did early Mars possess a dynamo, which later died? Possible answers are that there was an early episode of plate tectonics, or that Mars’ core started off very hot. I have also looked at the enigmatic fact that one half of Mars has a thicker crust than the other half – the hemispheric dichotomy. I am continuing to investigate global questions of this nature, and have just finished a review article on the early Martian crust.
This figure (from the review article)
shows a hypothetical Martian temperature structure at 4.1 Gyr before
present. The temperature structure depends on the distribution of
radiogenic elements in the crust and mantle, and is compatible with
available geophysical and geochemical observations.
PhD Opportunities (click here for more
details)
Although I intend to continue my studies of the Martian interior, I have also become interested in the near-surface of Mars, and am looking for PhD students to take this work forwards. For instance, the existence of near-surface ground ice is likely to cause modification to the local topography in ways which are both detectable and should allow us to infer some of the properties of this ice layer. Similarly, impact crater topography is likely to be modified in predictable ways.
Publications
Here is a list of Mars-related topics I have published or submitted:
· Early crustal evolution of Mars F. Nimmo and K. Tanaka, Ann. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. , invited. Text (Word) and figures (PDF)
· Growth
of the hemispheric dichotomy and the cessation of plate tectonics on Mars, A.
Lenardic, F. Nimmo and L. Moresi J. Geophys. Res., 109, E02003,
2004 Reprint
· Thermal
evolution of the Martian core: Implications for an early dynamo, J.-P.
Williams and F. Nimmo, Geology , 32(2), 97-100, 2004. Reprint
· Admittance
estimates of mean crustal thickness and density at the Martian hemispheric
dichotomy, F. Nimmo, J. Geophys. Res. 107(E11), 5117,
10.1029/2000JE001488, 2002 (PDF file
available)
· Strength of faults on Mars
from MOLA topography, D.N. Barnett and F. Nimmo, Icarus, 157,
34-42, 2002. (abstract
here PDF file (1100K)
available)
· Surface runoff features on
Mars: Testing the carbon dioxide formation hypothesis, S. Stewart and F.
Nimmo, J. Geophys. Res. 107(E9), 5069, 10.1029/2000JE001467,
2002. (abstract
here PDF file
(1890K) available)
· Constraints on the depth of
magnetized crust on Mars from impact craters, F. Nimmo and M.S. Gilmore, J.
Geophys. Res. 106, 12315-12323, 2001. (abstract here PDF file (1731K) available)
· Estimates of Martian
crustal thickness from viscous relaxation of topography, F. Nimmo and D.
Stevenson, J. Geophys. Res. 106, 5085-5098, 2001. (abstract here PDF file
available).
· The influence of plate
tectonics on the thermal evolution and magnetic field of Mars, F. Nimmo and
D. Stevenson, J. Geophys. Res. 105, 11969-11980, 2000. (abstract here PDF file
available).
· Dike intrusion as a
possible cause of linear Martian magnetic anomalies, F. Nimmo, Geology
28, 391-394, 2000. (abstract here; email me if you want a reprint).
· The generation of Martian
floods by melting permafrost above dykes, D. McKenzie and F. Nimmo, Nature
397 ,231-233, 1999 (abstract here PDF file (487K) available).
Department of Earth and Space Sciences home page
Last Modified: 18 Oct 2004.