NASA Logo Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology View the NASA Portal
NASA Banner
NASA Banner
NASA Banner
JPL HOME EARTH SOLAR SYSTEM STARS & GALAXIES SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NASA Banner
JPL Science
JPL Science Division Home
Planetary Science Planetary Science
Earth and Planetary Atmospheres
Geophysics & Planetary Geosciences
People
Projects
Asteroids, Comets & Satellites
Chemistry and Astrobiology
Planetary Ices
Astrophysics & Space Sciences Astrophysics & Space Sciences
Climate, Oceans and Solid Earth Sciences Climate, Oceans and Solid Earth Sciences
Earth Atmospheric Science Earth Atmospheric Science
Directorate Science Affiliates Directorate Science Affiliates
Table Mountain Facility Table Mountain Facility
Open Postdoc Positions Open Postdoc Positions
Brochures Brochures
 Geophysics & Planetary Geosciences: People
Suzanne Smrekar's Picture
Address:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
M/S 183-501
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109
Phone:
818.354.4192
Fax:
818.393.5059
Email:

Suzanne Smrekar
MRO Deputy Project Scientist

Education
  • B.S. in Geophysics/Math, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island (1984)
  • Ph.D., Geophysics, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas (1990)
Research Interests
  • Modeling of mantle upwelling and tectonic processes to understand the different evolutionary paths of Venus, Mars, and Earth, using numerical and analytic models of deformation
  • Analysis of gravity, topography, and magnetic field data to constrain the thermal evolution and history of the lithosphere using spatial and spectral methods as well as joint inversions.
  • Development of instruments to measure thermal properties and heat flow on other planets.
  • Emplacement mechanisms for planetary lava flows.
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.

Professional Experience
  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA (1992-present)
    • Principal Scientist (1992-present)
    • Venus Exploration Analysis Group Co-Chair (2009-present)
    • Mars '05 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Deputy Project Scientist (2001-present)
    • Mars '09 Smart Lander Study Scientist (2001)
    • New Millennium, Deep Space 2, Mars Microprobe Project Scientist, JPL, (1995-2000)
    • Co-I, Champollion Physical Properties Probe (1995-1999)
    • Mars Micromission Study Scientist (1998-1999)
  • Postdoctoral Associate, Dept. of Earth, Atmos., and Planet. Sci., MIT, (1990-1992)
Selected Awards
  • NASA Exceptional Achievement in Science Award: Recent Volcanism on Venus (2011)
  • NASA Group Achievement Award MRO Gravity Science Team (2011)
  • NASA Exceptional Achievement Award: MRO Science Planning (2007)
  • Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers Nominee (1996)
  • NASA Group Achievement Award, Magellan Science Group (1993)
Selected Publications
  1. Smrekar, S.E. and Sotin, C., Constraints on mantle plumes on Venus: Implications for volcanism and volatile history, Icarus, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2011.09.011, 2011
  2. Phillips, R.J., M.T. Zuber, S.E. Smrekar, and 15 authors, Massive CO2 ice deposits sequestered in the south polar Layered deposits of Mars, Science 21 April DOI:10.1126/science.1203091, 2011..
  3. Konopliv, A.S., S.W. Asmar, W. M. Folkner, O. Karatekin, D. C. Nunes, S. E. Smrekar, C. F. Yoder, and M. T. Zuber, Mars high resolution gravity fields from MRO, Mars seasonal gravity, and other dynamical parameters, Icarus, 211, 401-428, 2011.
  4. Nunes, D.C., S.E. Smrekar, B. Fisher, J. Plaut, J.W. Holt, J. W. Head, and R.J. Phillips, SHARAD, pedestal craters, and the lost Martian layers: initial assessments, 116, E04006, doi:10.1029/2010JE003690, 2011.
  5. Smrekar, S.E., E.R. Stofan, N. Mueller, A. Treiman, L. Elkins-Tanton, J. Helbert, G. Piccioni, and P. Drossart, Recent Hotspot Volcanism on Venus from VIRTIS emissivity data, Science, 328, p. 605-608, 2010.
  6. Smrekar, S.E., T. Hoogenboom, E.R. Stofan, and P. Martin, Gravity analysis of Parga and Hecate Chasmata: Implications for rift and coronae formation, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 115, E07010, doi:10.1029/2009JE003435, 2010.
  7. Nunes, D. C., S. E. Smrekar, A. Safaeinili, J. Holt, R. J. Phillips, R. Seu, and B. Campbell, Examination Of Gully Sites On Mars With The Shallow Radar, J. Geophys. Res., , doi:10.1029/2009JE003509, 2010.
  8. Duan, XY, M. Moghaddam, D. Wenkert, R.L. Jordan, and S.E. Smrekar, X-band model of Venus atmosphere permittivity, Radio Sci., , 45, RS2003, doi:10.1029/2009RS004169, 2010.
  9. McGill, G. E., E.R. Stofan, S.E. Smrekar, Venus Tectonics, In Planetary Tectonics, eds. T. A. Watters and R.S. Schultz, Cambridge Univ. Press, pp. 585, 2009.
  10. Phillips, R.J., M.T. Zuber, S.E. Smrekar, and 24 other authors, Mars North Polar Deposits: Stratigraphy, Age, and Geodynamical Response, Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.1157546, 2008.
  11. Smrekar, S.E., L. Elkins-Tanton, J. Leitner, A. Lenardic, S. Mackwell, L. Moresi, C. Sotin, and E.R. Stofan, Tectonic and thermal evolution of Venus and the role of volatiles: Implications for understanding the terrestrial planets, in Exploring Venus as a Terrestrial Planet, eds. L.W. Esposito, E.R. Stofan, and T.E. Cravens, Geophys. Mono. 176, Am. Geophys. Un, Washington D.C, pp.43-72, 2007.
  12. Martin, P., E.R. Stofan, L.S. Glaze, and S.E. Smrekar, Corona of Parga Chasma, Venus, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 112, E04S03, doi:10.1029/2006JE002758, 2007.
  13. Guest, A. and S.E. Smrekar, New constraints on the thermal and volatile evolution of Mars, Phys. Earth Planet. Int., 164, 161-176, 2007.
  14. Seu, R., R.J. Phillips, D. Biccari, R. Oresei, A. Masdea, G. Picardi, A. Safaeinilli, B.A. Campbell, J.J. Plaut, L. Marinangeli, S.E. Smrekar, and D.C. Nunes, The SHARAD Sounding Radar on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, J. Geophys. Res., 112, E5, doi: 10.1029/2006JE002745, 2007.
  15. Zuber, M.T., F.G. Lemoine, D.E. Smith, A.S. Konopliv, S.E. Smrekar, S.W. Asmar, The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Radio Science Gravity Investigation, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 112, E5, doi:10.1029/2006JE002833, 2007.
  16. Zurek, R.W. and S.E. Smrekar, An Overview of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Science Mission, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 112, E5, doi: 10.1029/2006JE002701, 2007.
  17. Elkins-Tanton, L.T., S.E. Smrekar, P.C. Hess, and E.M. Parmentier, Volcanism and volatile recycling on a one-plate planet: Applications to Venus, J. Geophys. Res., 112, E04S06, doi:10.1029/2006JE002793, 2007.
  18. Milbury, C.A.E., S.E. Smrekar, C.A. Raymond, and G. Schubert, Lithospheric structure in the eastern region of Mars' dichotomy boundary, Planet. Space Sci., 55 (3), 280-288, 10.1016/j.pss.2006.03.009, 2007.
  19. Smrekar, S.E. and E.R. Stofan, Venus Surface and Interior, In Encyclopedia of the Solar System, eds. L.A. McFadden, P. Weissman, and T. Johnson, Academic Press/Elsevier, 2006.
  20. Hoogenboom, T., and S.E. Smrekar, Elastic thickness estimates for the northern lowlands of Mars, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 248, 830-839, 2006.
  21. Anderson, F. S. and S.E. Smrekar, Global mapping of crustal and lithospheric thickness on Venus, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 111, E8, E08006, doi: 10.1029/2004JE002395, 2006.
  22. Guest, A., and S. E. Smrekar, Relaxation of the Martian dichotomy boundary: Faulting in the Ismenius region and constraints on the early evolution of Mars, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 110, E12S25, doi:10.1029/2005JE002504, 2005.
  23. Stofan, E.R., and S.E. Smrekar, Large topographic rises, coronae, large flow fields and large volcanoes on Venus: Evidence for mantle plumes? In Plates, Plumes, and Paradigms, eds. G.R. Foulger, J.H. Natland, D.C. Presnall, and D.L. Anderson, Geol. Soc. Am. Special Vol. 388, pp. 861, 2005.
  24. Glaze, L.S., S. W. Anderson, E.R. Stofan, S. Baloga and S.E. Smrekar, Statistical distribution of tumuli on pahoehoe flows surfaces: Analysis of examples in Hawaii and Iceland and potential applications to lava flows on Mars, J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth, 110 (B8), Art. No. B08202, 2005.
  25. Smrekar, S.E., G.E. McGill, C.A. Raymond, and A.M. Dimitriou, Geologic evolution of the Martian Dichotomy in the Ismenius area of Mars and implications for plains magnetization, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 109, doi: 10.1029/2004JE002260, 2004.
  26. Brian, A. W., E.R. Stofan, J.E. Guest, and S.E. Smrekar, Laufey Regio: A newly discovered topographic rise on Venus, J. Geophys. Res. Planets 109, No. E7, E07002,10.1029/2002JE002010, 2004.
  27. Hoogenboom, T., S.E. Smrekar, F.S. Anderson, and G. Houseman, Admittance survey of Type 1 Coronae on Venus, J. Geophys. Res. Planets,109, E3, doi: 10.1029/2003JE002171, 2004.
  28. Smrekar, S.E., R. L. Comstock, and F.S. Anderson, A gravity survey of Type 2 coronae on Venus, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 108, (E8), doi: 10.1029/2002JE001935, 2003.
  29. Smrekar, S.E., and E.R. Stofan, Effects of lithospheric properties on the formation of Type 2 Corona on Venus, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 108, (E8), doi: 10.1029/2002JE001930, 2003.
  30. Moreels, P., and S.E. Smrekar, Identification of polygonal patterns on Venus using mathematical morphology, IEEE, Trans. Image Proc.,12, doi:10.1109/TIP.2003.814254, 2003.
  31. Smrekar, S.E., P. Moreels, B.J. Franklin, Characterization and origin of polygonal fractures on Venus, J. Geophys. Res. 107 (E11), doi: 10.1029/2001JE001808, 2002.
  32. Glaze, L.S., E.R. Stofan, S.E. Smrekar, S.M. Bologa, Insights into corona formation through statistical analyses, J. Geophys. Res., 107 (E12), doi:10.1029/2002JE001904, 2002.
  33. Stofan, E.R., S.W. Tapper, J.E. Guest, P. Grinrod, and S. E. Smrekar, Preliminary analysis of an expanded corona database for Venus, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28,4267-4270, 2001.
  34. Smrekar, S.E., R. Lorenz, and M. Urquhart, The Deep Space 2 penetrator design and use for accelerometry and estimation of thermal conductivity, In Planetary Penetrometry, N. I. Kömle, G. Kargl, A. J. Ball, R. D. Lorenz (Eds.), Austrian National Academy, pp. 264, 2001.
  35. Lorenz, R. D., J. E. Moersch, J. A. Stone, A. R. Morgan, and S. E. Smrekar, Penetration tests on the DS-2 mars microprobes: Penetration depth and impact accelerometry, Planetary and Space Science, 48, 419-436, 2000.
  36. Smrekar, S.E., and E.R. Stofan, Origin of corona-dominated topographic rises on Venus, Icarus,139, 100-116, 1999.
  37. Smrekar, S., D. Catling, R. Lorenz, J. Magalhães, M. Meyer, J. Moersch, P. Morgan, B. Murray, M. Presley-Holloway, A. Yen, and A. Zent, Deep Space 2: The Mars Microprobe Mission, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 104, 27,013-27,030, 1999.
  38. Anderson, F. S., and S. E. Smrekar, Tectonic effects of climate change on Venus, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 104, 30,743-30,756, 1999.
  39. Anderson, S.W., E. R. Stofan, S.E. Smrekar, J.E. Guest, and B. Wood, Evidence for pulsed inflation of pahoehoe sheet flows from surface fractures: Implications for the emplacement of continental flood basalts , Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 168, 7-18, 1999.
  40. Smrekar, S.E., and E.R. Stofan, Coupled upwelling and delamination: A new mechanism for coronae formation and heat loss on Venus, Science, 277, 1289-1294, 1997. Smrekar, S.E., E.R. Stofan, W.S. Kiefer, Large volcanic rises on Venus, in Venus II, eds. S.W. Brougher, D.M. Hunten, and R.J. Phillips, Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson, pp. 845-878, 1997.

Group Home Page
People in this Group
Group Projects
JPL Privacy Statement Sitemap Email Contact Form
FIRST GOV NASA Home Page   Site Manager: Mona Jasnow
  Webmaster: David Martin
  Privacy/Copyright