Ms. Nina Lanza
Ph.D. Candidate
Institute of Meteoritics
MSC03 2050
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
Fax: 505-277-3577
Email: nlanza /at/ unm /dot/ edu
B.A., Smith College, Astronomy, 2001
M.A., Wesleyan University, Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2006
Thesis title: Geometries of martian hillside gullies in the northern hemisphere: evidence for an insolation-driven mechanism of formation.
Research interests: I am generally interested in Mars, specifically surficial processes, geomorphology, and surface composition. My master's work involved measuring the geometries of martian hillside gullies in the northern hemisphere using GIS techniques; my results indicate that insolation may play a significant role in gully formation. Currently, I am assisting the ChemCam team with calibration target development. This instrument is part of the Mars Science Laboratory rover, which is scheduled for launch in 2009.
Recent Publications
Lanza, N. L., Ollila, A. M., Clegg, S. M., Barefield, J. E., Newsom, H. E., and Wiens, R. C. (2008) Identifying carbonate rocks in a martian environment using LIBS. Lunar and Planetary Sciences XXXIX, abstract # 2299. Click for PDF reprint
Wiens, R. C., Clegg, S., Barefield II, J., Vaniman, D., Lanza, N., Newsom, H., Herkenhoff, K., Bridges, N., Blaney, D., Maurice, S., Gasnault, O., Blank, J., Dyar, M. D., Milliken, R., Grotzinger, J., Crisp, J., and the ChemCam and MSL teams (2008) ChemCam remote analyses and imaging on the Mars Science Laboratory 2007 "slow motion" field test. Lunar and Planetary Sciences XXXIX, abstract # 1500. Click for PDF reprint
Newsom, H. E., Shearer, C. K., Lanza, N., Ollila, A., Nelson, M. J., Bullock, M. A., Moore, J. M., and Spilde, M. N. (2008). The Effects of subtle crystal chemical mineral characteristics on dissolution processes; New experiments on minerals reacted in Mars aqueous laboratory simulations. Lunar and Planetary Sciences XXXIX, abstract # 1469. Click for PDF reprint
Lanza, N. L., Meyer, G., Newsom, H., Wiens, R., and Okubo, C. (2008) Testing a debris flow source area and initiation hypothesis for simple 'classic' martian gullies. Presented at Workshop on Martian Gullies: Theories and Tests, abstract # 8038. Click for PDF reprint
Lanza, N. L., Newsom, H., Wiens, R., and Gilmore, M. S. (2007). What part of gullies are 'special,' implications for MSL landing sites. XXXVIII Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract #1926. Click for PDF reprint