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 Geophysics & Planetary Geosciences: People
Karl Mitchell's Picture
Address:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
M/S 183-601
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109-8099
Phone:
818-393-5519
Email:

Karl Mitchell

Education
  • B. Sc. (hons.) in Physics with Space Science and Technology, Leicester University (1995)
  • M.Sc./D.I.C. in Remote Sensing (Land Applications option), University of London (intercollegiate) (1996)
  • Ph.D. in Environmental Sci., Lancaster University (2002)
Research Interests
  • Planetary science
    • The lakes and seas of Titan
    • Cryovolcanism on Titan, from Cassini Radar
    • Volcanic eruptions on Mars, Titan, Io and Venus
    • Evolution of volcanism on Mars
    • Martian hydrology
  • Geophysical fluid dynamics
    • Volcanic ascent and eruption dynamics
    • Supersonic flow in explosive volcanic eruptions
    • Relationship between volcanic landforms and eruption models
  • Remote sensing
    • Topographic remote sensing of planetary surfaces
    • Orbital Stereo photogrammetry
Projects

Cassini-Huygens Icon Cassini-Huygens
The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft is currently exploring the ringed planet, its mysterious moons, the stunning rings and its complex magnetic environment.

Professional Experience
  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Scientist (2008-present)
  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NRC Postdoctoral Research Associate/NASA Postdoctoral Fellow (2005-2008)
  • Lancaster University, Environmental Science Department - PPARC Postdoctoral Research Assistant (2001-2005)
  • University College, London - Department of Geomatic Engineering - Research Assistant (1999-2001)
  • Leicester University - Summer Undergraduate Research Assistant (1994, 1995)
Selected Publications
  1. Wall, S. D., Hayes, A., Bristow, C., Lorenz, R. D., Stofan, E., Lunine, J. LeGall, A., Janssen, M., Lopes, R., Wye, L., Soderblom, L. A., Paillou, P., Aharonson, O., Zebker, H. A., Farr, T., Mitri, G., Kirk, R., Mitchell, K., Notarnicola, C. Casarano, D., Venturo, B. (2010) The active shoreline of Ontario Lacus, Titan: a morphological study of the lake and its surroundings. Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L05202, doi:10.1029/2009GL041821.
  2. Wood, C. A., Lorenz, R., Kirk, R., Lopes, R., Mitchell, K. and Stofan, E. (2010) Impact craters on Titan. Icarus, 206(1), 334-344.
  3. Burr, D. M., Jacobsen, R. E., Roth, D. L., Phillips, C. B., Mitchell, K. L. and Viola, D. (2009) Fluvial network analysis on Titan: Evidence for subsurface structures and west‐to‐east wind flow, southwestern Xanadu. Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L22203, doi:10.1029/2009GL040909.
  4. Nelson, R. M., Kamp, L. W., Lopes, R. M. C., Matson, D. L., Kirk, R. L., Hapke, B. W., Wall, S. D., Boryta, M. D., Leader, F. E., Smythe, W. D., Mitchell, K. L., Baines, K. H., Jaumann, R., Sotin, C., Clark, R. N., Cruikshank, D. P., Drossart, P., Lunine, J. I., Combes, M., Bellucci, G., Bibring, J.-P., Capaccioni, F., Cerroni, P., Coradini, A., Formisiano, V., Filacchione, G., Langevin, Y., McCord, T. B., Mennella, V., Nicholson, P. D., Sicardy, B., Irwin, P. G. J. and Pearl, J. C. (2009) Photometric changes on Saturn's Titan: Evidence for active cryovolcanism. Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L04202, doi:10.1029/2008GL036206.
  5. Wall, S. D., Lopes, R. M., Stofan, E. R., Wood, C. A., Radebaugh, J. L., Hörst, S. M., Stiles, B. W., Nelson, R. M., Kamp, L. W., Janssen, M. A., Lorenz, R. D., Lunine, J. I., Farr, T. G., Mitri, G., Paillou, P., Paganelli, F. and Mitchell, K. L. (2009) Cassini RADAR images at Hotei Arcus and western Xanadu, Titan: Evidence for geologically recent cryovolcanic activity. Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L04203, doi:10.1029/2008GL036415.
  6. Stiles, B. W., Hensley, S., Gim, Y., Bates, D. M., Kirk, R. L., Hayes, A., Radebaugh, J., Lorenz, R. D., Mitchell, K. L., Callahan, P. S., Zebker, H., Johnson, W. T. K., Wall, S. D., Lunine, J. I., Wood, C. A., Janssen, M., Pelletier, F., West, R. D., Veeramacheneni, C. and the Cassini RADAR Team (2009) Determining Titan surface topography from Cassini SAR data. Icarus 202, 584-598.
  7. Zhong, F., Mitchell, K. L., Hays, C. C., Choukroun, M., Barmatz, M., and Kargel, J. S. (2009) The rheology of cryovolcanic slurries: motivation and phenomenology of methanol-water slurries with implications for Titan. Icarus 202, 607-619.
  8. Lopes, R. M. C., Stofan, E. R., Peckyno, R., Radebaugh, J., Mitchell, K. L., Mitri, H. Wood, C. A., Kirk, R. L., Wall, S. D., Lunine, J. I., Hayes, A., Farr, T., Wye, L., Craig, J., Ollerenshaw, R. J., Janssen, M., LeGall, A., Paganelli, F., West, R., Stiles, B., Callahan, P., Anderson, Y., Valora, P. and Soderblom, L. (2009) Distribution and interplay of geologic processes on Titan from Cassini RADAR data. Icarus, doi:10.1016/j.icarus/2009.08.010.
  9. Lorenz, R. D., Lopes, R. M., Paganelli, F., Lunine, J. I., Kirk, R. L., Mitchell, K. L., Soderblom, L. A., Stofan, E. R., Ori, G., Myers, M., Miyamoto, H., Radebaugh, J., Stiles, B., Wall, S. D., Wood, C. A. and the Cassini RADAR Team (2008) Fluvial channels on Titan: Initial Cassini RADAR observations. Planet. Space Sci., 56(8), 1132-1144.
  10. Hayes, A., Aharonson, O., Lewis, K., Mitchell, K. L., Lorenz, R., Callahan, P., Lunine, J., Lopes, R., Wall, S., Elachi, C., Mitri, G., Kirk, R., Gim,Y., Stofan, E. and the Cassini RADAR Team (2008) Hydrocarbon lakes on Titan: Distribution and interaction with a porous regolith. Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L09204, doi:10.1029/2008GL033409.
  11. Paillou, P., Mitchell, K., Wall, S., Ruffié, G., Wood, C., Lorenz, R., Stofan, E., Lunine, J., Lopes, R. and Encrenaz, P. (2008) Microwave dielectric constant of liquid hydrocarbons: Application to the depth estimation of Titan's lakes. Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L05202, doi:10.1029/2007GL032515.
  12. Lorenz, R. D., Mitchell, K. L., Kirk, R. L., Hayes, A. G., Aharonson, O., Zebker, H. A., Paillou, P., Radebaugh, J., Lunine, J. I., Janssen, M. A., Wall, S. D., Lopes, R. M., Stiles, B., Ostro, S., Mitri, G. and Stofan, E. R. (2008) Titan's inventory of organic surface materials. Geophys. Res. Lett. 35, L02206, doi:10.1029/2007GL032118.
  13. Lorenz, R. D., Wood, C. A., Lunine, J. I., Wall, S. D., Lopes, R. M., Mitchell, K. L., Paganelli, F., Anderson, Y. Z., Wye, L., Tsai, C., Zebker, H. and Stofan, E. R. (2007) Titan's young surface: Initial impact crater survey by Cassini RADAR and model comparison. Geophys. Res. Lett. 34, L07204, doi:10.1029/2006GL028971.
  14. Lopes, R. M., Mitchell, K. L., Wall, S. D., Mitri, G., Janssen, M., Ostro, S., Kirk, R. L., Hayes, A. G., Stofan, E. R., Lunine, J. I., Lorenz, R. D., Wood, C., Radebaugh, J., Paillou, P., Zebker, H. and Paganelli, F. (2007) The lakes and seas of Titan. EOS Trans. Am. Geophys. Union 88(51), 569-570.
  15. Keszthelyi, L., Jaeger, W., Milazzo, M., Radebaugh, J., Davies, A. G. and Mitchell, K. L. (2007) New estimates for Io eruption temperatures: Implications for the interior. Icarus 192, 491-502.
  16. Leask, H. J., Wilson, L. and Mitchell, K. L. (2007) Formation of Memnonia Fossa, the source of the Mangala Valles, Mars: Morphological development as a result of volcano-ice interactions. J. Geophys. Res., 112, E02011, doi:10.1029/2005JE002644.
  17. Naud, C., Mitchell, K. L., Muller, J.-P., Clothiaux, E. E., Albert, P., Preusker, R., Fischer, J. and Hogan, R. J. (2007) Comparison between ATSR2 stereo, MOS O2-A band and ground-based cloud top heights. Int. J. Remote Sens. 28(9), 1969-1987.
  18. Muller, J.-P., Denis, M.-A., Dundas, R. D., Mitchell, K. L., Naud, C. and Mannstein, H. (2007) Stereo cloud-top heights and cloud fraction retrieval from ATSR2. Int. J. Remote Sens. 28(9), 1921-1938.
  19. Stofan, E. R., Elachi, C., Lunine, J. I., Stiles, B., Mitchell, K. L., Ostro, S., Soderblom, L., Wood, C., Zebker, H., Wall, S., Janssen, M., Kirk, R., Lopes, R., Paganelli, F., Radebaugh, J., Wye, L., Anderson, Y., Allison, M., Boehmer, R., Callahan, P., Encrenaz, P., Flamini, E., Francescetti, G., Gim, Y., Hamilton, G., Hensley, S., Johnson, W. T. K., Kelleher, K., Muhleman, D., Paillou, P., Picardi, G., Posa, F., Roth, L., Seu, R., Shaffer, S., Vetrella, S. and West, R. (2007) The lakes of Titan. Nature 445, 61-64.
  20. Lopes, R. M. C., Mitchell, K. L., Stofan, E. R., Lunine, J. I., Lorenz, R., Kirk, R. L., Wood, C. A., Wall, S. D., Robshaw, L. E., Fortes, A. D., Neish, C. D., Radebaugh, J., Reffet, E., Ostro, S. J., Elachi, C., Allison, M. D., Anderson, Y., Boehmer, R., Boubin, G., Callahan, P., Encrenaz, P., Flamini, E., Francescetti, G., Gim, Y., Hamilton, G., Hensley, S., Janssen, M. A., Johnson, W. T. K., Kelleher, K., Muhleman, D. O., Ori, G., Orosei, R., Picardi, G., Posa, F., Roth, L. E., Seu, R., Shaffer, S., Soderblom, L. A., Stiles, B., Vetrella, S., West, R. D., Wye, L. and Zebker, H. A. (2007) Cryovolcanic features on Titan's surface as revealed by the Cassini Radar. Icarus 186, 395-412.
  21. Leask, H. J., Wilson, L. and Mitchell, K. L. (2007) Formation of Mangala Valles outflow channel, Mars: Morphological development, and water discharge and duration estimates. J. Geophys. Res. 112, E02011, doi:10.1029/2005JE002644.
  22. Lorenz, R. D., Wall, S., Radebaugh, J., Boubin, G., Reffet, E., Janssen, M., Stofan, E., Lopes, R., Kirk, R., Elachi, C., Lunine, J., Mitchell, K., Paganelli, F., Soderblom, L., Wood, C., Wye, L., Zebker, H., Anderson, Y., Ostro, S., Allison, M., Boehmer, R., Callahan, P., Encrenaz, P., Ori, G. G., Francescetti, G., Gim, Y., Hamilton, G., Hensley, S., Johnson, W., Kelleher, K., Muhleman, D., Picardi, G., Posa, F., Roth, L., Seu, R., Shaffer, S., Stiles, B., Vetrella, S., Flamini, E. and West, R. (2006) The sand seas of Titan: Cassini RADAR observations of longitudinal dunes. Science 312, 724-727.
  23. Leask, H. J., Wilson, L. and Mitchell, K. L. (2006) Formation of Aromatum Chaos, Mars: Morphological development as a result of volcano-ice interactions. J. Geophys. Res. 111, E08071, doi:10.1029/2005JE002549.
  24. Leask, H. J., Wilson, L. and Mitchell, K. L. (2006) Formation of Ravi Vallis outflow channel, Mars: Morphological development, and water discharge and duration estimates. J. Geophys. Res. 111, E08070, doi:10.1029/2005JE002550.
  25. Murray, J. B., Muller, J.-P., Neukum, G., Hauber, E. Markiewicz, W. J., Head, J. W., Foing, B. H., Page, D., Mitchell, K. L., Portyankina, G. and the HRSC Co-Investigator Team (2005) Evidence from the Mars Express High Resolution Stereo Camera for a frozen sea close to Mars equator. Nature 454, 352-356.
  26. Mitchell, K. L. (2005) Coupled conduit flow and shape in explosive volcanic eruptions. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 143, 187-203.
  27. Hauber, E., van Gasselt, S., Ivanov, B., Werner, S., Head, J. W., Neukum, G., Jaumann, R., Greeley, R., Mitchell, K. L., Muller, P. and the HRSC Co-Investigator Team (2005) Discovery of a flank caldera and very young glacial activity at Hecates Tholus, Mars. Nature 454, 356-361.
  28. Wilson, L., Ghatan, G. J., Head, J. W. and Mitchell, K. L. (2004) Mars outflow channels: A reappraisal of the estimation of water flow speeds from water depths, regional slopes and channel floor properties. J. Geophys. Res. 109, doi:10.1029/2004JE002281.
  29. Mitchell, K. L. and Wilson, L. (2003) Mars: a geologically active planet. Astron. Geophys. 44(4), 16-20.
  30. Head, J. W., Wilson, L. and Mitchell, K. L. (2003) Generation of recent massive water floods at Cerberus Fossae, Mars, by dike emplacement, cryospheric cracking and confined aquifer groundwater release. Geophys. Res. Lett., 30(11), 1577, doi:10.1029/2003GL01735.
  31. Bridges, J. C., Seabroook, A. M., Rothery, D. A., Kim, J. R., Pillinger, C. T., Sims, M. R., Golombek, M. P., Duxbury, T., Head, J. W., Muller, J.-P., Moncrieff, C., Wright, I. P., Mitchell, K. L., Grady, M. M. and Morley, J. G. (2003) Selection of the landing site in Isidis Planitia of Mars probe Beagle 2. J. Geophys. Res. 108(E1), doi:10.1029/2001JE001820.
  32. Mitchell, K. L. (2002) The thermodynamics and fluid mechanics of near-vent processes in explosive volcanic eruptions on the Earth and Mars. Ph. D. thesis, Lancaster University.

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