 FORMER STUDENTS Daniel Berman, 2003 (Geosciences) Virginia Gulick, 1993 (Geosciences) Windy Jaeger, 2004 (PTYS) Jeffrey Johnson, 1994 (Geosciences) Goro Komatsu, 1993 (PTYS) Jonathan Pedicino, 1996 (PTYS) FORMER POSTDOC(S) Goro Komatsu (1994-1996) Hideaki Miyamoto (2002-2004) | Vic Baker Regents' ProfessorPlanetary surfaces, geomorphology Ph.D., 1971, Colorado Kuiper #409B 621-7875  Years with LPL: 1981 to present RESEARCH INTERESTS Research interests divide into the areas of planetary geology, Earth geomorphology and paleohydrology, and issues of science and society in relation to policy, the environment, and philosophy. My research in planetary paleohydrology focuses on the morphology, genesis, and geological/geophysical/hydrological implications of various channels, valleys, and related landforms on Mars and Venus. My students and I relate these geomorphological features to volcanic, tectonic, and atmospheric processes. Other important considerations for Mars include the conditions that may have provided habitats for life. I also conduct field investigations of the Late Pleistocene megafloods that impacted what is now the northwestern United States. We are applying 2-D computational models to our analyses of this flooding, which provides a terrestrial analog to ancient channel-forming processes on Mars. For the past 30 years, my students and I have been investigating Holocene paleoflood records from the southwestern U.S. We have also been studying the geomorphology of the spectacular southern Arizona debris flows of late July 2006. The applied flood-hazard work leads to concern with public policy issues and the public perception of science. CV for Dr. Baker (PDF) CURRENT GRANTS
FORMER SPACECRAFT INVOLVEMENT Skylab, PI Apollo-Soyuz, Co-Investigator Viking, guest investigator Magellan, Radar Investigation Team Mars Odyssey, Gamma Ray Spectrometer Team NASA Autonomous Sciencecraft Experiment ADS PUBLICATIONS SEARCH NASA ADS Author search: Victor R. Baker SELECTED PUBLICATIONS Baker, V.R., 2012, Terrestrial analogs, planetary geology, and the nature of geological reasoning: Planetary and Space Science Baker, V.R., 2011, Global planetary change and catastrophic Earth-surface evolution: Implications for modern geomorphological research: Geographica Polonica, v. 84, Special Issue Part 2, p. 5-14. Dohm, J.M., and 39 others, including Baker, V.R., 2011, An Inventory of Potentially Habitable Environments on Mars: Geological and Biological Perspectives, in Garry, W.B. and Bleacher, J.E., editors, Analogs for Planetary Exploration: Geological Society of America Special Paper 483, Chapter 21. p. 317-347.. doi:10.1130/2011.2483(21).. Fairen, A. G., Dohm, J. M., Baker, V. R., et. al. Meteorites at Meridiani Planum provide evidence for significant amounts of surface and near-surface water on early Mars 2011M&PS...46.1832F Fink, W. Tarbell, M.S., Jobling, F.M., Furfaro, R., Powers, L., Kargel, J., Baker, V.R., and Lunine, J., 2011, Robotic test bed for autonomous surface exploration of Titan, and other planetary bodies: in IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings, Paper #1770, Big Sky, Montana Pelletier, J. D., Baker, V. R. The role of weathering in the formation of bedrock valleys on Earth and Mars: A numerical modeling investigation 2011JGRE..11611007P Rodríguez, J. A. P., et al. Secondary chaotic terrain formation in the higher outflow channels of southern circum-Chryse, Mars 2011Icar..213..150R Komatsu, G., et al. Roles of methane and carbon dioxide in geological processes on Mars 2011P&SS...59..169K Jones, A. P., et al. Geomorphic analysis of Hale crater, Mars: The effects of impact into ice-rich crust 2011Icar..211..259J Alho, P., Baker, V. R., Smith, L. N. Paleohydraulic reconstruction of the largest Glacial Lake Missoula draining(s) 2010QSRv...29.3067A Brown, K. B., et al. Isotopically-depleted late Pleistocene groundwater in Columbia River Basalt aquifers: Evidence for recharge of glacial Lake Missoula floodwaters?2010GeoRL..3721402B Banks, M. E., et al. An analysis of sinuous ridges in the southern Argyre Planitia, Mars using HiRISE and CTX images and MOLA data 2009JGRE..11409003B Dohm, J. M., et al. Claritas rise, Mars: Pre-Tharsis magmatism? 2009JVGR..185..139D Dohm, J. M., et al. New evidence for a magmatic influence on the origin of Valles Marineris, Mars 2009JVGR..185...12D Komatsu, G., et al. Quaternary paleolake formation and cataclysmic flooding along the upper Yenisei River 2009Geomo.107..143K Dohm, J. M., et al. GRS evidence and the possibility of paleooceans on Mars 2009P&SS...57..664D Baker, V. R. The Channeled Scabland: A Retrospective 2009AREPS..37..393B Komatsu, G., et al. Quaternary paleolake formation and cataclysmic flooding along the upper Yenisei River 2009Geomo.104..143K Banks, M. E., et al. High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) observations of glacial and periglacial morphologies in the circum-Argyre Planitia highlands, Mars 2008JGRE..11312015B Baker, V. R. Paleoflood hydrology: Origin, progress, prospects 2008Geomo.101....1B Baker, V. R. Planetary landscape systems: a limitless frontier 2008ESPL...33.1341B Dohm, J. M., et al. Recent geological and hydrological activity on Mars: The Tharsis/Elysium corridor 2008P&SS...56..985D Furfaro, R., et al. The search for life beyond Earth through fuzzy expert systems 2008P&SS...56..448F Boynton, W. V., et al. Concentration of H, Si, Cl, K, Fe, and Th in the low- and mid-latitude regions of Mars 2007JGRE..11212S99B Dohm, J. M., et al. Possible ancient giant basin and related water enrichment in the Arabia Terra province, Mars 2007Icar..190...74D Schulze-Makuch, D., et al. Exploration of hydrothermal targets on Mars 2007Icar..189..308S Coleman, N. M., Dinwiddie, C. L., Baker, V. R. Evidence that floodwaters filled and overflowed Capri Chasma, Mars 2007GeoRL..3407201C Baker, V. R. Planetary science: Water cycling on Mars 2007Natur.446..150B Mahaney, W. C., et al. Rock glaciers on Mars: Earth-based clues to Mars’ recent paleoclimatic history 2007P&SS...55..181M Taylor, G. J., et al. Bulk composition and early differentiation of Mars 2006JGRE..11103S10T Keller, J. M., et al. Equatorial and midlatitude distribution of chlorine measured by Mars Odyssey GRS 2006JGRE..11103S08K Taylor, G. J., et al. Variations in K/Th on Mars 2006JGRE..11103S06T Rodriguez, J. A. P., et al. Headward growth of chasmata by volatile outbursts, collapse, and drainage: Evidence from Ganges chaos, Mars 2006GeoRL..3318203R Miyamoto, H., et al. Numerical simulations of large-scale cataclysmic floodwater: A simple depth-averaged model and an illustrative application 2006Geomo..76..179M Fink, W., et al. Next-generation robotic planetary reconnaissance missions: A paradigm shift 2005P&SS...53.1419F Schulze-Makuch, D., et al. Venus, Mars, and the Ices on Mercury and the Moon: Astrobiological Implications and Proposed Mission Designs 2005AsBio...5..778S Fairén, A. G., et al. Prime candidate sites for astrobiological exploration through the hydrogeological history of Mars 2005P&SS...53.1355F Berman, D. C., et al. The role of arcuate ridges and gullies in the degradation of craters in the Newton Basin region of Mars 2005Icar..178..465B Rodríguez, J. A. P., et al. Control of impact crater fracture systems on subsurface hydrology, ground subsidence, and collapse, Mars 2005JGRE..11006003R Fink, W., Datta, A., Baker, V. AGFA: (Airborne) Automated Geologic Field Analyzer 2005GeCAS..69..535F Fink, W., et al. Next-generation robotic planetary reconnaissance missions: A paradigm shift 2005GeCAS..69..533F Baker, V. R. Mars and Earth: Results of recent Mars missions 2005GeCAS..69..529B Baker, V. R. Planetary science: Picturing a recently active Mars 2005Natur.434..280B Baker, V. R., et al. Extraterrestrial hydrogeology 2005HydJ...13...51B Fairén, A. G., et al. Inhibition of carbonate synthesis in acidic oceans on early Mars 2004Natur.431..423F Mahaney, W. C., et al. Ancient wet aeolian environments on Earth: clues to presence of fossil/live microorganisms on Mars 2004Icar..171...39M Anderson, R. C., et al. Tectonic histories between Alba Patera and Syria Planum, Mars 2004Icar..171...31A Miyamoto, H., et al. Dynamics of unusual debris flows on Martian sand dunes 2004GeoRL..3113701M Miyamoto, H., et al. Fluid dynamical implications of anastomosing slope streaks on Mars 2004JGRE..10906008M Dohm, J. M., et al. The northwestern slope valleys (NSVs) region, Mars: a prime candidate site for the future exploration of Mars 2004P&SS...52..189D Baker, V. R. Planetary scienceIcy martian mysteries 2003Natur.426..779B Fairén, A. G., et al. Episodic flood inundations of the northern plains of Mars 2003Icar..165...53F Ferris, J. C., et al. Correction to ``Dark slope streaks on Mars: Are aqueous processes involved?'' by J. C. Ferris, J. M. Dohm, V. R. Baker, and T. Maddock III 2002GeoRL..29p..34F Ferris, J. C., et al. Dark slope streaks on Mars: Are aqueous processes involved? 2002GeoRL..29j.128F Dohm, J. M., et al. Ancient drainage basin of the Tharsis region, Mars: Potential source for outflow channel systems and putative oceans or paleolakes 2001JGR...10632943D Mahaney, W. C., et al. Morphogenesis of Antarctic Paleosols: Martian Analogue 2001Icar..154..113M Baker, V. R. Water and the martian landscape 2001Natur.412..228B Fells, J. A. J., et al. Widely tunable twin fiber grating dispersion compensator for 80 Gbit/s 2001OptPN..12...45F Baker, V. Extraterrestrial geomorphology: an introduction 2001Geomo..37..175B Greenbaum, N., Schick, A. P., Baker, V. R. The palaeoflood record of a hyperarid catchment, Nahal Zin, Negev Desert, Israel 2000ESPL...25..951G Enzel, Y., et al. High-Resolution Holocene Environmental Changes in the Thar Desert Northwestern India 1999Sci...284..125E Baker, V. R. Hydrological Understanding and Societal Action 1998JAWRA..34..819B Greenbaum, N., et al. A high magnitude storm and flood in a hyperarid catchment, Nahal Zin, Negev Desert, Israel 1998HyPr...12....1G Komatsu, G., Baker, V. R. Paleohydrology and flood geomorphology of Ares Vallis 1997JGR...102.4151K Komatsu, G., Baker, V. R. Channels in the Solar System 1996P&SS...44..801K Baker, V. The pragmatic roots of American Quaternary geology and geomorphology 1996Geomo..16..197B Rajaguru, S. N., et al. Channel form and processes of the flood-dominated Narmada River, India 1995ESPL...20..407R Kargel, J. S., et al. Evidence of ancient continental glaciation in the Martian northern plains 1995JGR...100.5351K Sumin Finn, V., et al. Large-scale spatial patterns in topography at Alpha Regio, Venus 1995GeoRL..22.1901S Komatsu, G., Baker, V. R. Plains tectonism on Venus: Inferences from canali longitudinal profiles 1994Icar..110..275K Baker, V. Geomorphological understanding of floods 1994Geomo..10..139B Johnson, J. R., Baker, V. R. Surface property variations in Venusian fluidized ejecta blanket craters 1994Icar..110...33J Wohl, E. E., Fuertsch, S. J., Baker, V. R. Sedimentary records of late Holocene floods along the Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers, Western Australia 1994AuJES..41..273W Wohl, E. E., et al. Controls on bedrock channel incision along nahal paran, Israel 1994ESPL...19....1W O'Connor, J. E., et al. A 4500-Year Record of Large Floods on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, Arizona 1994JG....102....1O Komatsu, G., Baker, V. R. Meander properties of Venusian channels 1994Geo....22...67K Ely, L. L., et al. A 5000-Year Record of Extreme Floods and Climate Change in the Southwestern United States 1993Sci...262..410E Baker, V. Extraterrestrial geomorphology: science and philosophy of Earthlike planetary landscapes 1993Geomo...7....9B Kargel, J. S., et al. The volcanology of Venera and VEGA landing sites and the geochemistry of Venus 1993Icar..103..253K Komatsu, G., et al. Venusian channels and valleys - Distribution and volcanological implications 1993Icar..102....1K Baker, V. R., Benito, G., Rudoy, A. N. Paleohydrology of Late Pleistocene Superflooding, Altay Mountains, Siberia 1993Sci...259..348B Baker, V. R., et al. Channels and valleys on Venus - Preliminary analysis of Magellan data 1992JGR....9713421B Komatsu, G., Kargel, J. S., Baker, V. R. Canali-type channels on Venus - Some genetic constraints 1992GeoRL..19.1415K Baker, V. R., et al. Ancient oceans, ice sheets and the hydrological cycle on Mars 1991Natur.354...86B Baker, V. R., et al. Ancient oceans, ice sheets and the hydrological cycle on Mars 1991Natur.352..589B Baker, V. The reenchantment of geomorphology 1991Geomo...4...73B Arvidson, R. E., et al. Magellan - Initial analysis of Venus surface modification 1991Sci...252..270A Gulick, V. C., Baker, V. R. Origin and evolution of valleys on Martian volcanoes 1990JGR....9514325G Baker, V. Rocks and landforms by A.J. Gerrard. Unwin Hyman, London, 1988, xiii+319 pp., £11.95. (paperback) 1990Geomo...3...94B Gulick, V. C., Baker, V. R. Fluvial valleys and Martian palaeoclimates 1989Natur.341..514G Baker, V. Paleoflood hydrology and extraordinary flood events 1987JHyd...96...79B And, J. P., Baker, V. R. Palaeoflood hydrology of the Salt river, Arizona 1987ESPL...12..109A Stedinger, J. R., Baker, V. R. Surface Water Hydrology: Historical and Paleoflood Information (Paper 7R0051) 1987RvGeo..25..119S Baker, V. R. Networks of branching valleys on Mars 1986PhInt..25...37B Baker, V. R., Partridge, J. B. Small Martian valleys - Pristine and degraded morphology 1986JGR....91.3561B Brakenridge, G. R., Newsom, H. E., Baker, V. R. Ancient hot springs on Mars: Origins and paleoenvironmental significance of small Martian valleys 1985Geo....13..859B Baker, V. R., Pickup, G., Polach, H. A. Radiocarbon dating of flood events, Katherine Gorge, Northern Territory, Australia 1985Geo....13..344B Baker, V. Cataclysmic Late pleistocene flooding from glacial Lake Missoula: A review 1985QSRv....4....1B Baker, V. R. The Channels of Mars 1983C&T....99R..65B Baker, V. R. Erosional processes in channelized water flows on Mars 1979JGR....84.7985B Baker, V. R., Kochel, R. C. Martian channel morphology - Maja and Kasei Valles 1979JGR....84.7961B Baker, V. R. The Spokane flood controversy and the Martian outflow channels 1978Sci...202.1249B Patton, P. C., Baker, V. R. New evidence for pre-Wisconsin flooding in the channeled scabland of eastern Washington 1978Geo.....6..567P Baker, V. R., Penteado-Orellana, M. M. Adjustment to Quaternary Climatic Change by the Colorado River in Central Texas 1977JG.....85..395B Baker, V. R. Hydrogeomorphic methods for the regional evaluation of flood hazards 1976EnGeo...1..261B Baker, V. R. Urban geology of boulder, colorado: A progress report 1975EnGeo...1...75B Baker, V. R., Milton, D. J. Erosion by catastrophic floods on Mars and Earth 1974Icar...23...27B Baker, V. Paleohydraulic interpretation of Quaternary alluvium near Golden, Colorado 1974QuRes...4...94B |
