Purdy, Sharon Wilson
Research Geologist National Air and Space Museum
0000-0001-8872-8546
Purdy, Sharon Wilson
Research Geologist National Air and Space Museum
Planetary geology
Background And Education
Education And Training
- B.A., Middlebury College
- M.S., University of Virginia
- Ph.D., University of Virginia
Research And Grants
Investigator On
- Fresh Shallow Valleys and Pollywog Craters: Insight Into Post-Noachian Fluvial Activity on Mars awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - Shared Services Center 2019 -
- Preparing a Geologic Map in Margaritifer Terra: A Community Resource to Facilitate Future Scientific Investigations on Mars awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - Shared Services Center 2019 -
- AS-ENVS Geomorphology of Mars and Icy Solar System Bodies awarded by University of Virginia
- Evolution and Environment of Martian Alluvial Fans awarded by University of Virginia
- Evolution and Environment of Martian Alluvial Fans awarded by University of Virginia
- Fresh Shallow Valleys and the Post Noachian Fluvial and Climatic History of Mars awarded by University of Virginia
- Insight into the Late-Stage Climate Record of Mars Through Analog Studies of Alluvial Fans in the Atacama Desert awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - Shared Services Center
Publications
Selected Publications
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Article
- Kite, Edwin S., Mischna, Michael A., Fan, Bowen, Morgan, Alexander M., Wilson, Sharon A., and Richardson, Mark, I. 2022. "Changing spatial distribution of water flow charts major change in Mars's greenhouse effect." Science Advances, 8, (21). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abo5894. 2022
- Grant, John A., Wilson, S. A., Golombek, M. P., Trussell, A., Warner, N. H., Williams, N., Weitz, C. M., Abarca, H., and Deen, R. 2022. "Degradation at the InSight Landing Site, Homestead Hollow , Mars: Constraints From Rock Heights and Shapes." Earth and Space Science, 9, (2). https://doi.org/10.1029/2021EA001953. 2022
- Morgan, Alexander M., Wilson, Sharon A., and Howard, Alan D. 2022. "Geospatial data from a global survey of martian fan-shaped sedimentary landforms." Data in Brief, 44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2022.108494. 2022
- Warner, N. H., Golombek, M. P., Ansan, V., Marteau, E., Williams, N., Grant, John A., Hauber, E., Weitz, C., Wilson, Sharon A., Piqueux, S., Mueller, N., Grott, M., Spohn, T., Pan, L., Schmelzbach, C., Daubar, I. J., Garvin, J., Charalambous, C., Baker, Mariah, and Banks, M. 2022. "In Situ and Orbital Stratigraphic Characterization of the InSight Landing Site-A Type Example of a Regolith-Covered Lava Plain on Mars." Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 127, (4). https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JE007232. 2022
- Howard, A. D., Wilson, S. A., Morgan, A. M., Moore, J. M., and White, O. L. 2021. "Light-toned deposit in the northeastern Hellas basin formed by terrain-conforming airfall sedimentation." Icarus, 360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114356. 2021
- Warren, A. O., Holo, S., Kite, E. S., and Wilson, S. A. 2021. "Overspilling small craters on a dry Mars: Insights from breach erosion modeling." Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 554 116671–116671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116671. 2021
- Wilson, Sharon A., Morgan, Alexander M., Howard, Alan D., and Grant, John A. 2021. "The Global Distribution of Craters With Alluvial Fans and Deltas on Mars." Geophysical Research Letters, 48, (4). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL091653. 2021
- Baker, Mariah, Newman, C., Charalambous, C., Golombek, M., Spiga, A., Banfield, D., Lemmon, M., Banks, M., Lorenz, R., Garvin, J., Grant, John, Lewis, K., Ansan, V., Warner, N., Weitz, C., Wilson, Sharon A., and Rodriguez, S. 2021. "Vortex-Dominated Aeolian Activity at InSight's Landing Site, Part 2: Local Meteorology, Transport Dynamics, and Model Analysis." Journal of Geophysical Research. E. Planets, 126, (4). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JE006514. 2021
- Weitz, Catherine M., Grant, John A., Golombek, Matthew P., Warner, Nicholas H., Hauber, Ernst, Ansan, Veronique, Wilson, Sharon A., Charalambous, Constantinos, Williams, Nathan, Calef, Fred, Pike, W. T., Lethcoe‐Wilson, Heather, Maki, Justin, DeMott, Alyssa, and Kopp, Megan. 2020. "Comparison of InSight Homestead Hollow to Hollows at the Spirit Landing Site." Journal of Geophysical Research. E. Planets, 125, (7). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JE006435. 2020
- Warner, Nicholas H., Schuyler, Andrew J., Rogers, A. D., Golombek, Matthew P., Grant, John, Wilson, Sharon, Weitz, Cathy, Williams, Nathan, and Calef, Fred. 2020. "Crater Morphometry on the Mafic Floor Unit at Jezero Crater, Mars: Comparisons to a Known Basaltic Lava Plain at the InSight Landing Site." Geophysical Research Letters, 47, (17). https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089607. 2020
- Grant, John A., Warner, Nicholas H., Weitz, Catherine M., Golombek, Matthew P., Wilson, Sharon A., Baker, Mariah, Hauber, Ernst, Ansan, Veronique, Charalambous, Constantinos, Williams, Nathan, Calef, Fred, Pike, W. T., DeMott, Alyssa, Kopp, Megan, Lethcoe, Heather, and Banks, Maria E. 2020. "Degradation of Homestead Hollow at the Insight Landing Site Based on the Distribution and Properties of Local Deposits." Journal of Geophysical Research. E. Planets, 125, (4) e2019JE006350. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JE006350. 2020
- Golombek, M., Warner, N. H., Grant, John A., Hauber, E., Ansan, V., Weitz, C. M., Williams, N., Charalambous, C., Wilson, Sharon A., DeMott, A., Kopp, M., Lethcoe-Wilson, H., Berger, L., Hausmann, R., Marteau, E., Vrettos, C., Trussell, A., Folkner, W., Le Maistre, S., Mueller, N., Grott, M., Spohn, T., Piqueux, S., Millour, E., Forget, F. et al. 2020. "Geology of the InSight landing site on Mars." Nature Communications, 11, (1) Article 1014. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14679-1. 2020
- Hughes, M. N., Arvidson, R. E., Grant, J. A., Wilson, S. A., Howard, A. D., and Golombek, M. P. 2019. "Degradation of Endeavour Crater Based on Orbital and Rover-Based Observations in Combination With Landscape Evolution Modeling." Journal of Geophysical Research. E. Planets, 124, (6) 1472–1494. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JE005949. 2019
- Grant, John A. and Wilson, Sharon A. 2019. "Evidence for Late Alluvial Activity in Gale Crater, Mars." Geophysical Research Letters, 46, (13) 7287–7294. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083444. 2019
- Kite, Edwin S., Mayer, David P., Wilson, Sharon A., Davis, Joel M., Luca, Antoine S., and de Quay, Gaia Stucky. 2019. "Persistence of intense, climate-driven runoff late in Mars history." Science Advances, 5, (3). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aav7710. 2019
- Wilson, Sharon A., Grant, John A., Howard, Alan D., and Buczkowski, Deborah L. 2018. "The Nature and Origin of Deposits in Uzboi Vallis on Mars." Journal of Geophysical Research. E. Planets, 123, (7) 1842–1862. https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JE005508. 2018
- Grant, John A. and Wilson, Sharon A. 2018. "The nature and emplacement of distal aqueous-rich ejecta deposits from Hale crater, Mars." Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 53, (4) 839–856. https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.12843. 2018
- Grant, John A., Golombek, Matthew P., Wilson, Sharon A., Farley, Kenneth A., Williford, Ken H., and Chen, Al. 2018. "The science process for selecting the landing site for the 2020 Mars rover." Planetary and Space Science, 164 106–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2018.07.001. 2018
- Kite, Edwin S., Sneed, Jonathan, Mayer, David P., and Wilson, Sharon A. 2017. "Persistent or repeated surface habitability on Mars during the late Hesperian - Amazonian." Geophysical Research Letters, 44, (9) 3991–3999. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL072660. 2017
- Wilson, Sharon A., Howard, Alan D., Moore, Jeffrey M., and Grant, John A. 2016. "A Cold-Wet Mid-Latitude Environment on Mars during the Hesperian-Amazonian Transition: Evidence from Northern Arabia Valleys and Paleolakes: A Late, Cold and Wet Climate on Mars." Journal of Geophysical Research. E. Planets, 121, (9) 1667–1694. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JE005052. 2016
- Grant, John A., Parker, T. J., Crumpler, L. S., Wilson, Sharon A., Golombek, M. P., and Mittlefehldt, D. W. 2016. "The degradational history of Endeavour crater, Mars." Icarus, 280 22–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.019. 2016
- Aeolian Ripple. Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. 18-22. 2015
- Grotzinger, J. P., Gupta, S., Malin, M. C., Rubin, D. M., Schieber, J., Siebach, K., Sumner, D. Y., Stack, K. M., Vasavada, A. R., Arvidson, R. E., Calef, F., Edgar, L., Fischer, W. F., Grant, John A., Griffes, J., Kah, L. C., Lamb, M. P., Lewis, K. W., Mangold, N., Minitti, M. E., Palucis, M., Rice, M. E., Williams, R. M. E., Yingst, R. A., Blake, D. et al. 2015. "Deposition, exhumation, and paleoclimate of an ancient lake deposit, Gale crater, Mars." Science, 350, (6257). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aac7575. 2015
- Craddock, Robert A., Tooth, Stephen, Zimbelman, James R., Wilson, Sharon A., Maxwell, Ted A., and Kling, Corbin. 2015. "Temporal Observations of a Linear Sand Dune in the Simpson Desert, Central Australia: Testing Models for Dune Formation on Planetary Surfaces." Journal of Geophysical Research. E. Planets, 120, (10) 1736–1750. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JE004892. 2015
- Transverse Aeolian Ridge. Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. 2207-2215. 2015
- Grotzinger, J. P., Sumner, D. Y., Kah, L. C., Stack, K., Gupta, S., Edgar, L., Rubin, D., Lewis, K., Schieber, J., Mangold, N., Milliken, R., Conrad, P. G., DesMarais, D., Farmer, J., Siebach, K., Calef, F., Hurowitz, J., McLennan, S. M., Ming, D., Vaniman, D., Crisp, J., Vasavada, A., Edgett, K. S., Malin, M., Blake, D. et al. 2014. "A Habitable Fluvio-Lacustrine Environment at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars." Science, 343, (6169) 1242777. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1242777. 2014
- McLennan, S. M., Anderson, R. B., Bell, J. F., III, Bridges, J. C., Calef, F., III, Campbell, J. L., Clark, B. C., Clegg, S., Conrad, P., Cousin, A., Des Marais, D. J., Dromart, G., Dyar, M. D., Edgar, L. A., Ehlmann, B. L., Fabre, C., Forni, O., Gasnault, O., Gellert, R., Gordon, S., Grant, John A., Grotzinger, J. P., Gupta, S., Herkenhoff, K. E., Hurowitz, J. A. et al. 2014. "Elemental Geochemistry of Sedimentary Rocks at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars." Science, 343, (6169) Article 1244734. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1244734. 2014
- Farley, K. A., Malespin, C., Mahaffy, P., Grotzinger, J. P., Vasconcelos, P. M., Milliken, R. E., Malin, M., Edgett, K. S., Pavlov, A. A., Hurowitz, JA, Grant, John A., Miller, H. B., Arvidson, R., Beegle, L., Calef, F., Conrad, P. G., Dietrich, W. E., Eigenbrode, J., Gellert, R., Gupta, S., Hamilton, V., Hassler, D. M., Lewis, K. W., McLennan, S. M., Ming, D. et al. 2014. "In Situ Radiometric and Exposure Age Dating of the Martian Surface." Science, 343, (6169). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1247166. 2014
- Morgan, A. M., Howard, A. D., Hobley, D. E. J., Moore, J. M., Dietrich, W. E., Williams, R. M. E., Burr, D. M., Grant, John A., Wilson, Sharon A., and Matsubara, Yo. 2014. "Sedimentology and climatic environment of alluvial fans in the Martian Saheki crater and a comparison with terrestrial fans in the Atacama Desert." Icarus, 229 131–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2013.11.007. 2014
- Grant, John A., Wilson, Sharon A., Mangold, Nicolas, Calef III, Fred, and Grotzinger, John P. 2014. "The Timing of Alluvial Activity in Gale Crater, Mars." Geophysical Research Letters, 41, (4) 1142–1149. https://doi.org/10.1002/2013GL058909. 2014
- Ming, D. W., Archer,P. D., Jr., Glavin, D. P., Eigenbrode, J. L., Franz, H. B., Sutter, B., Brunner, A. E., Stern, J. C., Freissinet, C., McAdam, A. C., Mahaffy, P. R., Cabane, M., Coll, P., Campbell, J. L., Atreya, S. K., Niles, P. B., Bell,J. F., III, Bish, D. L., Brinckerhoff, W. B., Buch, A., Conrad, P. G., Des Marais, D. J., Ehlmann, B. L., Fairen, A. G., Farley, K. et al. 2014. "Volatile and Organic Compositions of Sedimentary Rocks in Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars." Science, 343, (6169). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1245267. 2014
- Mahaffy, P. R., Webster, C. R., Atreya, S. K., Franz, H., Wong, M., Conrad, P. G., Harpold, D., Jones, J. J., Leshin, L. A., Manning, H., Owen, T., Pepin, R. O., Squyres, S., Trainer, M., MSL Science Team, Kemppinen, O., Bridges, N., Johnson, J. R., Minitti, M., Cremers, D., Bell, J. F., Edgar, L., Farmer, J., Godber, A., Wadhwa, M. et al. 2013. "Abundance and Isotopic Composition of Gases in the Martian Atmosphere from the Curiosity Rover." Science, 341, (6143) 263–266. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1237966. 2013
- Webster, C. R., Mahaffy, P. R., Atreya, S. K., Flesch, G. J., Farley, K. A., MSL Science Team, Kemppinen, O., Bridges, N., Johnson, J. R., Minitti, M., Cremers, D., Bell, J. F., Edgar, L., Farmer, J., Godber, A., Wadhwa, M., Wellington, D., McEwan, I., Newman, C., Richardson, M., Charpentier, A., Peret, L., King, P., Blank, J., Weigle, G. et al. 2013. "Low Upper Limit to Methane Abundance on Mars." Science, 342, (6156) 355–357. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1242902. 2013
- Williams, R. M. E., Grotzinger, J. P., Dietrich, W. E., Gupta, S., Sumner, D. Y., Wiens, R. C., Mangold, N., Malin, M. C., Edgett, K. S., Maurice, S., Forni, O., Gasnault, O., Ollila, A., Newsom, H. E., Dromart, G., Palucis, M. C., Yingst, R. A., Anderson, R. B., Herkenhoff, K. E., Le Mouelic, S., Goetz, W., Madsen, M. B., Koefoed, A., Jensen, J. K., Bridges, J. C. et al. 2013. "Martian Fluvial Conglomerates at Gale Crater." Science, 340, (6136) 1068–1072. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1237317. 2013
- Meslin, P. -. Y., Gasnault, O., Forni, O., Schroder, S., Cousin, A., Berger, G., Clegg, S. M., Lasue, J., Maurice, S., Sautter, V., Le Mouelic, S., Wiens, R. C., Fabre, C., Goetz, W., Bish, D., Mangold, N., Ehlmann, B., Lanza, N., Harri, A. -. M., Anderson, R., Rampe, E., McConnochie, T. H., Pinet, P., Blaney, D., Leveille, R. et al. 2013. "Soil Diversity and Hydration as Observed by ChemCam at Gale Crater, Mars." Science, 341, (6153). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1238670. 2013
- Stolper, E. M., Baker, M. B., Newcombe, M. E., Schmidt, M. E., Treiman, A. H., Cousin, A., Dyar, M. D., Fisk, M. R., Gellert, R., King, P. l., Leshin, L., Maurice, S., McLennan, S. M., Minitti, M. E., Perrett, G., Rowland, S., Sautter, V., Wiens, R. C., MSL Science Team, Kemppinen, O., Bridges, N., Johnson, J. R., Cremers, D., Bell, J. F., Edgar, L. et al. 2013. "The Petrochemistry of Jake_M: A Martian Mugearite." Science, 341, (6153). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1239463. 2013
- Leshin, L. A., Mahaffy, P. R., Webster, C. R., Cabane, M., Coll, P., Conrad, P. G., Archer, P. D., Atreya, S. K., Brunner, A. E., Buch, A., Eigenbrode, J. L., Flesch, G. J., Franz, H. B., Freissinet, C., Glavin, D. P., McAdam, A. C., Miller, K. E., Ming, D. W., Morris, R. V., Navarro-Gonzalez, R., Niles, P. B., Owen, T., Pepin, R. O., Squyres, S., Steele, A. et al. 2013. "Volatile, Isotope, and Organic Analysis of Martian Fines with the Mars Curiosity Rover." Science, 341, (6153). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1238937. 2013
- Grant, John A. and Wilson, Sharon A. 2012. "A possible synoptic source of water for alluvial fan formation in southern Margaritifer Terra, Mars." Planetary and Space Science, 72, (1) 44–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2012.05.020. 2012
- Grant, John A., Irwin, Rossman P., III, Wilson, Sharon A., Buczkowski, D., and Siebach, K. 2011. "A lake in Uzboi Vallis and implications for Late Noachian-Early Hesperian climate on Mars." Icarus, 212, (1) 110–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2010.11.024. 2011
- Grant, John A. and Wilson, Sharon A. 2011. "Late alluvial fan formation in southern Margaritifer Terra, Mars." Geophysical Research Letters, 38 1–6. 2011
- Grant, John A., Golombek, M. P., Grotzinger, J. P., Wilson, Sharon A., Watkins, M. M., Vasavada, A. R., Griffes, J. L., and Parker, T. J. 2011. "The science process for selecting the landing site for the 2011 Mars Science Laboratory." Planetary and Space Science, 59, (11-12) 1114–1127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2010.06.016. 2011
- Grant, John A., Wilson, Sharon A., Dobrea, Eldar Noe, Fergason, Robin L., Griffes, Jennifer L., Moore, Jeffery M., and Howard, Alan D. 2010. "HiRISE Views Enigmatic Deposits in the Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars." Icarus, 205, (1) 53–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2009.04.009. 2010
- Grant, John A., Wilson, Sharon A., Cohen, B. A., Golombek, M. P., Geissler, P. E., Sullivan, R. J., Kirk, R. L., and Parker, T. J. 2008. "Degradation of Victoria Crater, Mars." Journal of Geophysical Research. E. Planets, 113 E11010. 2008
- Wilson, Sharon A., Howard, A. D., Moore, J. M., and Grant, John A. 2007. "Geomorphic and stratigraphic analysis of Crater Terby and layered deposits north of Hellas basin, Mars." Journal of Geophysical Research. E. Planets, 112 E08009. 2007
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Chapter
- Wilson, Sharon A. 2015. "Aeolian Ripple." In Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Hargitai, Henrik and Kereszturi, A., editors. 18–22. Springer Reference. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3134-3_462. 2015
- Wilson, Sharon A. 2015. "Transverse Aeolian Ridge (TAR)." In Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Hargitai, Henrik and Kereszturi, A., editors. 2207–2215. Springer Reference. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3134-3_380. 2015
- Grant, John A., Irwin, Rossman P., III, and Wilson, Sharon A. 2010. "Aqueous depositional settings in Holden crater, Mars." In Lakes on Mars. Cabrol, Nathalie A. and Grin, Edmond A., editors. 323–346. Oxford, UK: Elsevier. 2010
- Wilson, Sharon A., Moore, J. M., Howard, A. D., and Wilhelms, D. E. 2010. "Evidence for ancient lakes in the Hellas region." In Lakes on Mars. Cabrol, Nathalie A. and Grin, Edmond A., editors. 195–222. Oxford, UK: Elsevier. 2010
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Dataset
- Morgan, Alexander M., Purdy, Sharon A., and Howard, Alan D. 2022. [Dataset] Geospatial data from a global survey of martian fan-shaped sedimentary landforms. Distributed by National Air and Space Museum. https://doi.org/10.25573/DATA.19952486.V1. 2022
- Grant, John A. and Purdy, Sharon A. 2021. [Dataset] Constraints on Degradation at the InSight Landing Site, Homestead Hollow, Mars, from Rock Heights and Shapes. Distributed by The Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.25573/DATA.14924253.V3. 2021
- Grant, John A., Purdy, Sharon A., Golombek, Matthew, Trussell, Allyson, Warner, Nicholas, Williams, Nathan R., Weitz, Catherine M., Abarca, Hallie, and Deen, Robert. 2021. [Dataset] Final Data for Constraints on Degradation at the InSight Landing Site, Homestead Hollow, Mars, from Rock Heights and Shapes Item. Distributed by National Air and Space Museum. https://doi.org/10.25573/DATA.15121554.V6. 2021
- Purdy, Sharon A., Morgan, Alexander M., Grant, John A., and Howard, Alan D. 2020. [Dataset] Global inventory of craters on Mars with alluvial fans and putative deltas (scarp-fronted fans) using CTX data. Distributed by The Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.25573/DATA.13455788.V1. 2020
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Map
- Wilson, Sharon A., Grant, John A., and Williams, Kevin K. 2022. "Geologic Map of Morava Valles and Margaritifer basin, Mars, MTM Quadrangles -10022 and -15022." Scientific Investigations Map, Reston: U.S. Geological Survey, 1:1:500,000. https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3489. 2022
- Grant, John A., Wilson, Sharon A., Fortezzo, C. M., and Clark, D. A. 2009. "Geologic map of MTM -0012 and -25012 quadrangles, Margaritifer Terra region of MarsS, Scientific Investigations Map 3041, scale 1:1,000,000." Washington, DC: United States Geological Survey (USGS). 2009
Activities
Professional Service Activities
- Planetary Geology Division of GSA Chair, Past-Chair, 1st Vice Chair, 2nd Vice Chair, Secretary/Treasurer 2015 - 2020
Affiliation
Member Of
- American Geophysical Union Member
- The Geological Society of America Planetary Geology Division Board Member 2015 - 2020
Contact
Location
- National Air & Space Museum Academic Department
