James Albert Skinner Jr.

James Albert Skinner Jr.
United States Geological Survey | USGS · Astrogeology Science Center

M.S.

About

166
Publications
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2,913
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Publications

Publications (166)
Poster
Full-text available
After its long reputation as an extremely polluted water river and anthropogenic mining waste dump, studies support Rio Tinto (southern Spain, Iberian Pyrite Belt) to be an extremely acidic environment where life relentlessly thrived long before human history. It has become clear that in this extreme environment, there are strong relationships betw...
Technical Report
Full-text available
The Planetary Geologic Mapping Protocol covers the idealized process of compiling a NASA-funded map product of a non-terrestrial solid surface planetary body for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) publication and summarizes technical specifications of the Mapping Process for authors and reviewers. Directed by community and programmatic recommendations,...
Article
Full-text available
We document a set of channels in a section of the Martian cratered highlands located between crustal massifs northeast of Hellas Planitia that are visible in cross section and planview >200 m below the surface. The morphometry and spatial distribution of the outcrops provide concrete geological evidence of a dynamic aqueous system in a structural s...
Chapter
Planetary cartography does not only provide an extensive basis for supporting planning activities in planetary exploration, e.g., landing-site selection, orbital observations, traverse planning, but it also supports mission conduct by, e.g., observation tracking and hazard avoidance mapping. It also provides the scientific and technical basis to cr...
Technical Report
Full-text available
A 30-question survey was conducted through an online questionnaire and was designed to (1) take <10 minutes, (2) instill a sense that responses would be acted upon, and (3) encourage community participation through a user-friendly interface. The survey made a distinction between “standardized” geoscience maps (those published by the USGS that requi...
Article
Full-text available
We used a grid‐mapping technique to analyze the distribution of 13 water‐ and ice‐related landforms in Acidalia Planitia as part of a joint effort to study the three main basins in the northern lowlands of Mars, that is, Acidalia, Utopia, and Arcadia Planitiae. The landforms were mapped at full Context Camera resolution along a 300‐km‐wide strip fr...
Article
Full-text available
This work in Utopia Planitia is the first continuous regional mapping of ice‐related landforms integrated into an effort to study the three main basins (Arcadia, Acidalia, and Utopia Planitiae) in the northern plains. The distribution and morphotypes of these landforms, SHAllow RADar detections, and crater size‐frequency distribution measurements (...
Article
Full-text available
A project of mapping ice‐related landforms was undertaken to understand the role of subsurface ice in the northern plains. This work is the first continuous regional mapping from CTX (ConTeXt Camera, 6 m/pixel; Malin et al., 2007) imagery in Arcadia Planitia along a strip 300 km across stretching from 30°N to 80°N centered on the 170°W line of long...
Chapter
Geologic mapping is a key to understanding the geology of extraterrestrial bodies and is based on the same principles as mapping in terrestrial geology. However, there are some important differences, with respect to map scale and data availability. Whereas the terrestrial geologic mapper typically has access to the study area and can use data of al...
Article
Planetary cartography does not only provide an extensive basis for supporting planning activities in planetary exploration, e.g., landing-site selection, orbital observations, traverse planning, but it also supports mission conduct by, e.g., observation tracking and hazard avoidance mapping. It also provides the scientifi c and technical basis to c...
Article
Geologic map of the Nepenthes Planum Region of Mars
Article
Full-text available
Maps are one of the most important tools for communicating geospatial information between producers and receivers. Geospatial data, tools, contributions in geospatial sciences, and the communication of information and transmission of knowledge are matter of ongoing cartographic research. This applies to all topics and objects located on Earth or on...
Chapter
The term cartography is not only defined as creating a map but also encompasses the principles of cartography including the integration of science, techniques and aesthetics essential for making a useful map. The same principles of cartography used for the Earth can be also used for planetary bodies. The most obvious difference in using extraterres...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
A major component of many planetary missions is to return planetary spatial data, which are any data with a spatial component. Such data include orbital, remotely sensed data; rover-collected, navigation imagery; and collected samples with a spatial component. These data are used to make higher-order products used by planetary scientists and engine...
Conference Paper
A critical review of existing standard for geological features in planetary sciences is important to ensure uniform and understandable maps in the future. This contribution presents current efforts to handle this within a joint USGS/ASC - DLR project.
Conference Paper
There currently exists a clear need for long-range planning in regard to planetary spatial data and the development of infrastructure to support its use. Planetary data are the hard-earned fruits of planetary exploration, and the Mapping and Planetary Spatial Infrastructure Team (MAPSIT) mission is to ensure their availability for any conceivable i...
Article
Full-text available
Planetary Cartography does not only provides the basis to support planning (e.g., landing-site selection, orbital observations, traverse planning) and to facilitate mission conduct during the lifetime of a mission (e.g., observation tracking and hazard avoidance). It also provides the means to create science products after successful termination of...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Planetary Cartography does not only provides the basis to support planning (e.g., landing site selection, orbital observations, traverse planning) and to facilitate mission conduct during the lifetime of a mission (e.g., observation tracking and hazard avoidance). It also provides the means to create science products after successful termination of...
Conference Paper
Maps are one of the most important tools for communicating geospatial information between producers and receivers. Geospatial data, tools, contributions in geospatial sciences, and the communication of information and transmission of knowledge are matter of ongoing cartographic research. This applies to all topics and objects located on Earth or on...
Article
Full-text available
Planetary science is the study of planets, moons, irregular bodies such as asteroids and the processes that create and modify them. Like terrestrial sciences, planetary science research is heavily dependent on collecting, processing and archiving large quantities of spatial data to support a range of activities. To address the complexity of storing...
Article
In this paper we present the Large Crater Clustering (LCC) tool set, an ArcGIS plugin that supports the quantitative approximation of a primary impact location from user-identified locations of possible secondary impact craters or the long-axes of clustered secondary craters. The identification of primary impact craters directly supports planetary...
Article
The increased volume, spatial resolution, and areal coverage of high-resolution images of Mars over the past 15 years have led to an increased quantity and variety of small-scale landform identifications. Though many such landforms are too small to represent individually on regional-scale maps, determining their presence or absence across large are...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Introduction: An International Space Science Institute (ISSI) team project has been convened to study the northern plains of Mars. It uses geomorphological mapping to compare ice-related landforms in the three northern plains basins: Acidalia Planitia, Arcadia Planitia, and Utopia Planitia. The main science questions this project aims to answer are...
Article
Two investigative strategies are used to determine the distribution of specific lithologies in the Copernicus quadrangle: geologic and compositional mapping.
Conference Paper
Full-text available
This study is part of the activities of an ISSI International Team, which intends to produce new geomorphological maps of the northern lowlands of Mars along three long traverses across Acidalia, Utopia, and Arcadia Planitiae [1]. We aim at identifying the evolutionary history and the stratigraphy of sediments and other material and their relation...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Grid mapping provides a new, efficient and scalable approach to collecting data on large quantities of small landforms over large areas.
Article
Full-text available
This global geologic map of Mars, which records the distribution of geologic units and landforms on the planet's surface through time, is based on unprecedented variety, quality, and quantity of remotely sensed data acquired since the Viking Orbiters. These data have provided morphologic, topographic, spectral, thermophysical, radar sounding, and o...
Article
A new global geologic map of Mars has been completed in a digital, geographic information system (GIS) format using geospatially controlled altimetry and image data sets. The map reconstructs the geologic history of Mars, which includes many new findings collated in the quarter century since the previous, Viking-based global maps were published, as...
Article
We describe the regional geology of the units with which the unique Fe/Cr spinels are associated on the Moon.
Article
Full-text available
Our field mapping demonstrates a need for caution when inferring planetary eruption conditions from morphology due to effects of local lava storage and release.
Article
We present technical development and mapping results for using secondary impact landforms to identify potential source-secondary relationships on the Moon.
Article
We consider the science operations implications comparing “Apollo-style” site investigations with the same site investigated with conventional geologic mapping.
Article
This abstract offers basic insights into how geologic maps created from different tactics can be reconciled in support of exploratory missions.
Article
Full-text available
This report describes the traverse planning process for the Desert Research and Technology Studies (D-RATS) 2010 field simulation of a conceptual 14-day planetary mission. This activity took place between August 23 and September 17, 2010 in the San Francisco Volcanic Field, Arizona. It focused on the utilization of two pressurized rovers and a grou...
Article
We produced a 1:24,000 scale photogeologic map of the Desert Research and Technology Studies (DRATS) 2010 simulated lunar mission traverse area and surrounding environments located within the northeastern part of the San Francisco Volcanic Field (SFVF), north-central Arizona. To mimic an exploratory mission, we approached the region "blindly" by re...
Article
The new, post-Viking generation of Mars orbital imaging and topographical data provide significant higher-resolution details of surface morphologies, which induced a new effort to photo-geologically map the surface of Mars at 1:20,000,000 scale. Although from unit superposition relations a relative stratigraphical framework can be compiled, it was...
Article
The new global geologic map of Mars reveals how and where the planet has been resurfaced through time.
Article
The Runanga-Jorn basin, Northeast Hellas, has exposed scarps of volcanic, fluvial, and impact materials in what may be a regionally common suite of materials.
Article
We promote a discussion focused on how analog mission datasets can be a resource for cross-discipline investigation after actual tests have been completed.
Conference Paper
Full-text available
For the new global geological map of Mars unit model ages were determined in a consistent way. Applied methods and approaches are described in detail.
Article
Full-text available
Consistently mappable units critical to distinguishing the style and interplay of geologic processes through time are sparse in the Martian lowlands. This study identifies a previously unmapped Middle Amazonian (ca. 1 Ga) unit (Middle Amazonian lowland unit, mAl) that postdates the Late Hesperian and Early Amazonian lowland plains by >2 b.y. The un...
Article
Here we discuss how fusing orbital datasets in an analyzable geospatial format can help optimize landing-site selection and surface operations for future Mars missions given various technical constraints, with application to each Challenge Area.
Article
The preliminary hypothesis for the geologic evolution of the "Runanga-Jörn basin" in northeast Hellas Planitia, east of Terby crater, includes episodic volcanism mixed with hydrologic activity following the formation of Hellas.
Conference Paper
Full-text available
We describe how post-Viking data sets and our comprehensive, digital, team-based mapping approach have resulted in more robust unit identification, stratigraphic analysis, and understanding of geologic materials and features on Mars.
Conference Paper
Full-text available
This study shows how well-selected type locations of regional geologic units can be used for detailed crater counts to derive representative unit model ages.
Article
The Runanga-Jorn Basin provides insight into the evolution of the northeast Hellas Basin rim region. This development includes megaregolith, volcanic deposits, and stratified sediments with preserved vertical and lateral channel cross sections.
Article
Full-text available
A new atlas of Mars includes base maps created from merged, multiple datasets, global views of geology and composition, and features of interest in each region.
Article
This year we have formalized the MRCTR, as in “Mercator”, GIS Lab, a concept we have initiated as a means to support digital mapping and development of GIS tools. We will focus on creating a technical foundation prior to the retirement of PIGWAD.
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Based on our new geologic map of Mars at 1:20M scale and detailed crater counts, we reassess the earliest geologic evolution of Mars, noting degrees and styles of resurfacing for each of the earliest Martian epochs.
Article
Desert Research and Technology Studies (Desert RATS) is a multi-year series of hardware and operations tests carried out annually in the high desert of Arizona on the San Francisco Volcanic Field. These activities are designed to exercise planetary surface hardware and operations in conditions where long-distance, multi-day roving is achievable, an...
Article
The geologic history of planetary surfaces is most effectively determined by joining geologic mapping and crater counting which provides an iterative, qualitative and quantitative method for defining relative ages and absolute model ages. Based on this approach, we present spatial and temporal details regarding the evolution of the Martian northern...
Article
We present a preliminary photogeologic map of the Scandia region of Mars with the objective of reconstructing its resurfacing history. The Scandia region includes the lower section of the regional lowland slope of Vastitas Borealis extending about 500–1800 km away from Alba Mons into the Scandia sub-basin below −4800 m elevation. Twenty mapped geol...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
We describe new and updated aspects of our mapping approaches, progress to date, current issues, and plans for completion.
Article
Full-text available
Compilation of a new GIS-based global map of lobate debris aprons is underway to better understand the global inventory of these relict ice-rich features. We welcome contributions of GIS-based data from other investigators.
Article
We summarize NASA/JSC and USGS collaborative efforts in support of DRATS 2010 with particular attention to the construction and use of project-specific photogeologic maps.
Article
Due to their uniqueness and variety, planetary metadata has never been synchronized with the widely available Federal Geographic Data Consortium standards. We describe the benefits of FGDC standards for geospatial data within the planetary domain.
Article
We present the final technical methods behind a recently developed program that uses large crater clusters to identify potential source craters and summarize ongoing program applications for selected regions of Mars.
Article
The formation of ``mottled'' albedo surfaces in the Martian northern plains have remained enigmatic since their initial observation in Mariner 9 and Viking Orbiter data sets. We re-assess the geologic evolution of these materials in Chryse and Acidalia Planitiae by mapping and analyzing the spatial distribution of their characteristic landforms, in...
Article
We observe multiple lines of evidence that allude to the existence of unique outcrops of materials that superpose previously mapped Early Amazonian geologic units.
Article
Formational hypotheses based on preliminary observations and first-year mapping results of the Scandia-North Polar Region of Mars. The map area includes the Scandia Cavi, Scandia Tholi, Scandia Colles, northern Alba Patera, and Vastitas Borealis.
Article
We present the developmental successes and operational performance of a GIS-based computer program that analyzes the spatial relationships of secondary craters with potential parent craters to assist with Mars geologic mapping.
Article
The pervasive occurrence of secondary crater chains across multiple geologic terrains on planetary surfaces elevates their potential utility as stratigraphic markers. However, current approaches that link secondaries to their parent (source) craters are qualitative and vulnerable to over-simplification. Herein, we present the developmental status a...
Article
The geology of Mars and the stratigraphic characteristics of its uppermost crust (mega-regolith) suggest that some of the pervasively-occurring pitted cones, mounds, and flows may have formed through processes akin to terrestrial mud volcanism. A comparison of terrestrial mud volcanism suggests that equivalent Martian processes likely required disc...
Article
Recently acquired data from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE), Context (CTX) imager, and Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft were used to investigate the emplacement of the youngest flood-lava flow on Mars. Careful mapping finds that the Athabasc...