Science - Geophysics & Planetary Geosciences: People: Ashwin R. Vasavada

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

LRO - Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) launched in June 2009 with the objectives of finding safe lunar landing sites, locate potential resources, characterize the radiation environment, and demonstrate new technology.

Deputy Project Scientist, Mars Science Laboratory
Co-Investigator, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Diviner Radiometer (2004-present)
Committee on Public Affairs, American Geophysical Union (2006-2008)
University of California, Los Angeles - W. W. Rubey Faculty Fellow (2002-2004)
U.S. Congress - AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow (2001-2002)

Paige, D. A., et al., Diviner Lunar Radiometer observations of cold traps in the Moon's south polar region, Science, 330, 479-482, 2010.
Paige, D. A. et al., The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment, Space Sci. Rev., 10.1007/s11214-009-9529-2, 2009.
Del Genio, A. D. et al., Saturn eddy momentum fluxes and convection: First estimates from Cassini images, Icarus, 189, 479-492, 2007.
Salyck, C., A. P. Ingersoll, J. Lorre, A. R. Vasavada, and A. D. Del Genio, Interaction between eddies and mean flow in Jupiter's atmosphere: Analysis of Cassini imaging data, Icarus, 185, 430-442, 2006.
Szwast, M. A., M. I. Richardson, and A. R. Vasavada, Surface dust redistribution on Mars as observed by the Mars Global Surveyor and Viking orbiters, J. Geophys. Res., 10.1029/2005JE002485, 2006.
Vasavada, A. R., S. M. Horst, M. R. Kennedy, A. P. Ingersoll, C. C. Porco, A. D. Del Genio, and R. A. West, Cassini imaging of Saturn: Southern-hemisphere winds and vortices, J. Geophys. Res., 10.1029/2005JE002563, 2006.
Vasavada, A. R. and A. P. Showman, Jovian atmospheric dynamics: An update after Galileo and Cassini, Rep. Prog. Phys. 68, 1935-1996, 2005.
Porco C. C. et al., Cassini imaging science: Initial results on Saturn's atmosphere, Science, 307, 1243-1247, 2005.
Li, L., A. P. Ingersoll, A. R. Vasavada, C. C. Porco, A. D. Del Genio, R. A. West, and S. P. Ewald, Life cycles of spots on Jupiter from Cassini images, Icarus, 172, 9-23, 2004.
Ingersoll, A. P. et al., Dynamics of Jupiter's Atmosphere, in Jupiter: The Planet, Satellites & Rings, eds. F. Bagenal, W. McKinnon, and T. Dowling, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2004.
Porco, C. C. et al., Cassini imaging of Jupiter's atmosphere, satellites and rings, Science, 299, 1541-1547, 2003.
Vasavada, A. R., Galileo: Close-up views of Jupiter's dynamic atmosphere, High. Astron., 12, 602-605, 2002.
Dyudina, U. A., A. P. Ingersoll, A. R. Vasavada, S. P. Ewald, the Galileo SSI Team, Monte Carlo radiative transfer modeling of lightning observed in Galileo images of Jupiter, Icarus, 160, 336-349, 2002.
Roos-Serote, M., A. R. Vasavada, L. Kamp, P. Drossart, P. Irwin, C. Nixon, and R. W. Carlson, Wet and dry regions in Jupiter's atmosphere, Nature, 405, 158-160, 2000.
Vasavada, A. R., J.-P. Williams, D. A. Paige, K. E. Herkenhoff, N. T. Bridges, R. Greeley, B. C. Murray, D. S. Bass, and K. S. McBride, Surface properties of Mars' polar layered deposits and polar landing sites, J. Geophys. Res., 105, 6961-6969, 2000.
Gierasch, P. J., A. P. Ingersoll, D. Banfield, S. P. Ewald, P. Helfenstein, A. Simon-Miller, A. R. Vasavada, H. H. Breneman, D. A. Senske, and the Galileo Imaging Team, Moist convection observed on Jupiter, Nature, 403, 628-630, 2000.
Little, B., C. D. Anger, A. P. Ingersoll, A. R. Vasavada, D. Senske, H. H. Breneman, and W. J. Borucki, Galileo images of lighting on Jupiter, Icarus, 142, 306-323, 1999.
Vasavada, A. R., A. H. Bouchez, A. P. Ingersoll, B. Little, C. D. Anger, and the Galileo SSI Team, Jupiter's visible aurora and Io footprint, J. Geophys Res., 104, 27,133-27,142, 1999.
Vasavada, A. R., D. A. Paige, and S. E. Wood, Near-surface temperatures on Mercury and the Moon and the stability of polar ice deposits, Icarus, 141, 179-193, 1999.