Physics & Astronomy Colloquium

4:00 PM, Thursday, April 3, 2008
Room 155, Chem-Phys Building

Dr. Dhananjay Ravat
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of Kentucky

"The Magnetic Mystery of Mars''

A decade ago, very large crustal magnetic field features (both in size and magnitude compared to features on Earth) were discovered by Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft in the southern highlands of Mars. To explain some of linear features, early interpretations invoked processes similar to seafloor spreading on Earth. Some of the early interpretations also suggested that paleomagnetic poles were not aligned with the axis of rotation of the planet and suggested changes in the axis of rotation to asteroid impacts and/or mass imbalances caused by huge volcanoes such as Olympus Mons. The talk will discuss alternatives to some of the early interpretations of magnetic features on Mars and suggest magnetic minerals consistent with the inferred large magnetization values.

Refreshments will be served in CP 179 at 3:30 PM