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 Geophysics & Planetary Geosciences: People
Nathan Bridges's Picture
Address:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
M/S 183-501
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109
Phone:
818.393.7799
Fax:
818.393.5059
Email:

Nathan Bridges

Education
  • B.A. in Geology, University of Colorado, Boulder (1989)
  • M.S. in Geology, Arizona State University, Tempe (1992)
  • Ph.D. in Geology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1997)
Research Interests
Surface processes
  • Fluvial, particularly gullies (Mars)
  • Aeolian (Mars, Earth)
  • Volcanology (Venus)
Mission participation
  • HiRISE Investigation Scientist and Participating Scientist (MRO)
  • ChemCam Co-I (MSL)
Available Post-Doc Position

HiRISE, MSL, and Mars Aeolian Studies
This project will encompass one or more parts, depending on the candidate's skills and interests:

  • Analysis of HiRISE and other Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) data, with a focus on aeolian processes. The post-doc will work the the advisor (a HiRISE Co-I) studying aeolian and other features imaged by HiRISE and other MRO instruments. Probable focuses will be studies of dune and ripple textures, yardangs, and possible bedform migration. Participation in HiRISE operations may also be needed.
  • Preparation for MSL, focusing on ChemCam development and landing site studies. The advisor is a Co-I on ChemCam that is to fly on MSL in 20011. Help is needed in instrument calibration and planning, particularly with the Remote Micro Imager portion of ChemCam. In addition, studies of MSL landing sites using HiRISE and other data sets will be ongoing. The applicant can work on assembling and analyzing data sets of top priority sites. These include Gale Crater, which is of particular interest to the advisor.
  • Studies of terrestrial and Martian rock textures and aeolian processes using field, wind tunnel, and theoretical approaches. This will involve : a) Laser scanning of pits in rocks formed by volcanic outgassing (vesicles), abrasion, and chemical etching whereby shape and texture are measured at sub-millimeter accuracy and quantified using reproducible mathematical techniques. Studies will be in the field and laboratory; b) High speed video (HSV) analysis and modeling of grain liftoff and the resulting trajectories induced by grain collision into particle beds; c) High speed video analysis and modeling of basalt grain impacts onto rock targets. The results of this work will be to 1) increase our understanding of the factors involved in the formation of pits on rocks and 2) result in a better theoretical treatment and applied understanding of saltation and abrasion processes on Earth and Mars.

Projects

MRO - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Icon MRO - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) launched in 2005 and is on a search for evidence that water persisted on the surface of Mars for a long period of time.

MSL - Mars Science Laboratory Icon MSL - Mars Science Laboratory
The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission is scheduled to land a rover to Mars in 2012, with the goal of assessing the past and present habitability of the area it explores on Mars.

Professional Experience
  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory
    • Research Scientist (2005-present)
    • Scientist (2000-2005)
  • Caltech - Post-doc on Mars Pathfinder Project (1997-2000)
Selected Awards
  • JPL Spot Award (2008)
  • MRO Bonus Award (2007)
  • NASA Group Achievement Award, MRO Project Development Team (2006)
  • NASA Group Achievement Award, MER Science/Science Support Team (2005)
  • Level C Bonus Award, MRO cruise calibration work (2005)
  • Team Bonus Award, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (2004)
  • NASA Group Achievement Award, Mars Pathfinder Flight Operations Team (1998)
  • JPL Spot Award (2008)
Selected Publications
  1. Laity, J.E. and N.T. Bridges, Ventifacts on Earth and Mars: Analytical, field, and laboratory studies supporting sand abrasion and windward feature development, Geomorphology, 105, 202-217, (2009).
  2. Bridges, N.T. , S.J. Hook, J.K. Crowley, C. Roberto de Souza Filho, J.B. Macambira, G. de Lima Pereira Silva, and B.J. Thomson , The Carajas, Brazil Archean Banded Iron Formation: A Possible analog for ancient Martian marine environments, Eos, 89, 329-330, (2008).
  3. Thomson, B. J., N. T. Bridges, and R. Greeley, Rock abrasion features in the Columbia Hills, Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 113, E08010, doi:10.1029/2007JE003018, (2008).
  4. Bridges, N. T. , P. E. Geissler, A. S. McEwen, B. J. Thomson, F. C. Chuang, K. E. Herkenhoff, L. P. Keszthelyi, and S. Martínez-Alonso, Windy Mars: A dynamic planet as seen by the HiRISE camera, Geophys. Res. Lett. , 34, L23205, doi:10.1029/2007GL031445, (2007).
  5. Bridges, N.T. and C.N. Lackner, Northern hemisphere Martian gullies and mantled terrain: Implications for near surface water migration in Mars’ recent past, J. Geophys. Res., 111, E09014, doi:10.1029/2006JE2702, (2006).
  6. Bridges, N.T. , J. Phoreman, B.R. White, R. Greeley, E. Eddlemon, G. Wilson, and C. Meyer, Trajectories and energy transfer of saltating particles onto rock surfaces: Application to abrasion and ventifact formation on Earth and Mars, J. Geophys. Res. , 110, E12004, doi:10.1029/2004JE00238, (2005).
  7. Bridges, N.T. , J.E. Laity, R. Greeley, J. Phoreman, and E.E. Eddlemon, Mechanisms of rock abrasion and ventifact formation from laboratory and field analog studies with applications to Mars, Planet. Space Sci. , 52, 199-213, (2004).
  8. Martin, T.Z., N.T. Bridges, and J.R. Murphy, Near-surface temperatures at proposed MER landing sites, J. Geophys. Res. , 108, ROV 30-1-7, (2003).
  9. Bridges, N.T. and K.E. Herkenhoff, Topography and geologic characteristics of aeolian grooves in the south polar layered deposits, Icarus, 156, 387-398, (2002).
  10. Bridges, N.T. and G.E. McGill (2002), Geologic map of the Kaiwan Fluctus Quadrangle (V-44), Venus, Geol. Invest. Ser. I-2747, U.S. Geological Survey, (2002).
  11. Greeley, R., N.T. Bridges, R.O. Kuzmin, and J.E. Laity, Terrestrial analogs to aeolian features seen from the surface of Mars, J. Geophys. Res. , 107, 5-1-21, (2002).
  12. Bridges, N.T. , J.A. Crisp, and J.F. Bell, Characteristics of the Pathfinder APXS Sites: Implications for the composition of Martian rocks and soils, J. Geophys. Res. , 106, 14,621-14,665, (2001).
  13. Golombek, M.P. and N.T. Bridges, Erosion rates on Mars and implications for climate change: Constraints from the Pathfinder landing site, J. Geophys. Res. , 105, 1841-1853, (2000).
  14. Bridges, N.T. , R. Greeley, A.F.C. Haldemann, K.E. Herkenhoff, M. Kraft, T.J. Parker, and A.W. Ward, Ventifacts at the Pathfinder landing site, J. Geophys. Res. , 104, 8595-8615, (1999).
  15. Bridges, N.T. , Ambient effects on basalt and rhyolite lavas under Venusian, subaerial, and subaqueous conditions, J. Geophys. Res. , 102, 9243-9255, (1997).
  16. Bridges, N.T. , Characteristics of seamounts near Hawaii as viewed by GLORIA., Marine Geology, 138, 273-301, (1997).
  17. Smith, P.H. et al (N.T. Bridges is 3rd out of 26 coauthors), Results from the Mars Pathfinder camera, Science, 278, 1758-1765, (1997).
  18. Bridges, N.T. , Submarine analogs to Venusian pancake domes, Geophys. Res. Lett., 22, 2781-278, (1995).
  19. Fink, J.H. and N.T. Bridges, Effects of eruption growth and cooling rate on lava dome growth, Bull. Volcanology, 57, 229-239, (1995).
  20. Bridges, N.T. , Elevation-corrected thermal inertia and derived particle size on Mars and implications for the Tharsis Montes, Geophys. Res. Lett. , 21, 785-788 , (1994).
  21. Fink, J.H., N.T. Bridges, and R.E. Grimm , Shapes of Venusian "pancake" domes imply episodic emplacement and silicic compositions, Geophys. Res. Lett. , 20, 261-264, (1993).
  22. Bridges, N.T. , The moons of Mars: History, discovery, and exploration, Griffith Observer, 52, 2 - 10, (1988).

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