My research interests within planetary geology involve understanding                                                         how to interpret the sedimentology of Mars. I want to understand the                                                         interactions between the past environments of deposition and the current                                                         observations of Martian rocks and outcrops. The ultimate purpose being                                                         to constrain the sedimentary environment of deposition and diagenesis                                                         through two methods:


         

(1) Understanding relationships between porosity formation and fluid processes on the martian surface.

      When porosity is viewed as a indicator of previous fluid movement on or inside a surface, one needs to put a classification on the different types and amounts with respect to the probable processes that have occurred under the surface. This research uniquely examines data received from the MER mission to try and put constrains on how much movement, type of processes, and compares porosity classifications to the areas they are found in to show as a whole what caused its existence.

Selected Publications :
         Perl, S.M., McLennan, S.M., Grotzinger, J.P., Herkenhoff, K.E., and the Athena Science Team (2007) Sedimentological constraints of an infaltrating paleowater table in the Burns Formation, Meridiani Planum, Mars. Seventh International Conference on Mars, Abstract #3298, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston (CD-ROM).

         Perl, S.M., McLennan, S.M., Grotzinger, J.P., Herkenhoff, K.E., and the Athena Science Team (2007) Volumes and orientation of secondary porosity in the Burns formation, Meridiani Planum, Mars. Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVIII, Abstract #2226, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston (CD-ROM).

         Perl, S.M., McLennan, S.M., Grotzinger, J.P., Johnson, J.R., Clark, B.C., and the Athena Science Team (2006) Secondary porosity classification and analysis from the Burns formation, Meridiani Planum, Mars. Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVII, Abstract #2164, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston (CD-ROM).

         Perl, S.M., McLennan, S.M., Hahn, B.C., and the Athena Science Team (2005) Grain size
analyses of sedimentary rocks from the Meridiani Planum, Mars, URECA Collected Abstracts 2004-2005, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY.

(2) Correlation of lamination thickness to sedimentary facies distribution.

      The Microscopic Imager on board both Spirit and Opportunity allow the team to view ~30mm images of various features during the length of the mission. When viewing outcrop and rocks imagery in terms of a control on processes, one needs to have a model to compare how much the morphology and statistical analyses to terrestrial locations.

Current Research:
          Perl, S.M., McLennan, S.M. Grotzinger, J.P., Hahn, B.C., and the Athena Science Team (in progress)
          Lamination analysis of the Burns formation, Meridiani Planum, Mars

The Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission:

          In winter 2004 I was fortunate enough to be named a student collaborator as part of the Athena Science Team, the team that manages and studes data from the rovers. My involvement in the mission includes daily mission planning, documentation of engineering and science activities, observations of long term planning for the rovers, and participation in team meetings examining team research and future goals. Our group has a remote operations center in which we are able to study the science and engineering of the mission.

          In January 2005 I attended the first Athena Science Team meeting at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, my first event involving the Athena Team. Later in March our group went to Houston, Texas for the Lunar & Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) where I observed my first full science-based conference outside of the MER team. Later that month I gave my first poster at the Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities celebration day event. I was able to use ideas and insights I gained at both meetings to properly display my work and represent Mars and the team at my university.

          I spent the summer of 2005 working on the mission, planning daily missions as part of the Science Operations Working Group (SOWG) which allowed me to work on my own research while paralleling mission duties. Also during that summer I had the opportunity to present my work at my first presentation during the second Athena Science Team meeting in Ithaca, New York. I plan on continuing my research, mission duties, and particapting in MER/Athena Team activities for as long as I can. I also plan on continuing in planetary geology and engineering in graduate school, while trying to take as much part as I can in NASA-related missions.

          Below are some links that show my research and involvement in the mission:
                     Stony Brook University - "Sciences at Stony Brook" brocedure
                     Stony Brook University - Claims To Fame
                     Stony Brook Research - New Initatives (scroll down to Mars Exploration)
                     Office of the Vice-President For Research - August 8, 2005 (scroll down to Geosciences)