Research

Schematic illustration of sulfur cycling from an evolving crustal magmatic system on early Mars.

Sulfur Degassing on Early Mars

Widespread sulfates on the Martian surface and sulfide in Martian meteorites indicate that sulfur, sourced from volcanism, likely played a key role in shaping the early Martian surface. We use the Magma and Gas Equilibrium Calculator to model magmatic degassing of dynamic magma-gas systems and find that Martian magmas dominantly released reduced sulfur as opposed to oxidized sulfur species. The reduced sulfur species could have formed a hazy atmosphere and potent greenhouse gases on early Mars. Bellino & Sun (2025) Science Advances

Serpentinization in the Eridania Basin

The Eridania Basin on Mars is hypothesized to have been an ice-covered sea billions of years ago. It would have contained more water than all of the other lakes and channels on Mars combined. We used visible-to-near-infrared (VNIR) spectroscopy on Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) images to explore the mineralogy of the region and its potential to have experienced hydrothermal alteration.

CRISM image in Gorgonum Chaos of the Eridania Basin with raised chaotic terrain that contained detections of hydrothermal minerals, like serpentine. False color image.

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft captured this image of a volcanic eruption on Io's surface as it passed Jupiter. Credit to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Sulfur Inventory and Distribution of Io

Io, Jupiter's moon, is the most volcanically active body in our Solar System and its atmosphere is predominantly SO2 gas. We are using thermodynamic modeling software to better understand the nature of degassing on Io and its connection to volcanic observations from remote sensing.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse