LORI K FENTON

Carl Sagan Center, NASA Ames Research Center, MS 245-3, Moffett Field, CA  94035-1000

Office: (650) 604-0788      Cell: (510) 786-7199      Fax: (650) 604-6779

lfenton@carlsagancenter.org       http://humbabe.arc.nasa.gov/~fenton
 
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
I study surface aeolian processes on the terrestrial planets to understand changes in climate, the origin and transport of surface materials, and surface-to-atmosphere interactions. This work involves a three-fold approach: location and characterization of aeolian deposits and erosional features using spacecraft data, application of atmospheric models (global and mesoscale) to understand atmospheric circulation patterns and how they relate to aeolian features, and investigation of aeolian processes in the field on earth.
 
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Principal Investigator, SETI Institute, NASA Ames Research Center

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Arizona State University

Geologist, United States Geological Survey, Flagstaff

Graduate Research Assistant,California Institute of Technology

2006 - present

2003 - 2006

2000 - 2002

1996 - 2003

 
EDUCATION

California Institute of Technology

Ph.D. in Planetary Science

Thesis: Martian Aeolian Processes and Atmospheric Modeling, Advisor: Arden Albee

2003

 

 
 

University of Maryland, College Park                                                          

B.S. in Astronomy (with High Honors) and Physics (with High Honors)

Thesis: Mapping Mariner 9 Dust Opacities, Advisor: John C. Pearl

1996

 

 

 
AWARDS AND ACTIVITIES

Planetary Dunes Workshop: A Record of Climate Change, Organizing Committee Member

Workshop on Martian Gullies: Theories and Tests, Organizing Committee Member

NASA Carl Sagan Fellowship for Early Career Researchers

American Geophysical Union, Member

Geological Society of America, Member

Apr. 2008

Feb. 2008

2006

2001 - present

2007 - present

 
PUBLICATIONS

Hayward, R. K., Mullins, K. F., Fenton, L. K., Hare, T. M., Titus, T. N., Bourke, M. C., Colaprete, A., and Christensen, P. R. (2007), Mars Global Digital Dune Database and initial science results, J. Geophys. Res., 112, E11007, doi:10.1029/2007JE002943.

Fenton, L. K., P. E. Geissler, and R. M. Haberle (2007), Global warming and climate forcing by recent albedo changes on Mars, Nature, 446, doi:10.1038/nature.05718.

Fenton, L. K. (2006), Dune migration and slip face advancement in the Rabe Crater dune field, Mars, Geophys. Res. Lett, 33, L20201, doi:10.1029/2006GL027133.

Fenton, L. K. and M. T. Mellon (2006), Thermal properties of sand from Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) and Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS): Spatial variations within the Proctor Crater dune field on Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 111, E06014, doi:10.1029/2004JE002363.

Fenton, L. K. (2005), Potential sand sources for the dune fields in Noachis Terra, Mars, J. Geophys. Res. 110, E11004, doi :10.1029/2005JE002436.

Fenton, L. K., A. D. Toigo, and M. I. Richardson (2005), Aeolian processes in Proctor Crater on Mars: Mesoscale modeling of dune-forming winds, J. Geophys. Res., 110, E06005, doi:10.1029/2004JE002309.

Fenton, L. K., A. W. Ward, and J. L. Bandfield (2003), Aeolian processes in Proctor Crater on Mars: Sedimentary history as analyzed from multiple data sets, J. Geophys. Res., 108(E12), 5129, doi:10.1029/2002JE002015.

Fenton, L. K. and M. I. Richardson, Martian surface winds: Insensitivity to orbital changes and implications for aeolian processes, J. Geophys. Res., 106(E12), 32,885-32,902.

Fenton, L. K. and K. E. Herkenhoff (2000), Topography and stratigraphy of the northern Martian layered deposits using photoclinometry, stereogrammetry, and MOLA altimetry, Icarus, 147, 433-443.

Fenton, L. K., J. C. Pearl, and T. Z. Martin (1997), Mapping Mariner 9 dust opacities, Icarus, 130, 115-124.