Dr Mary Bourke
BA.MA. (UCD), Ph.D. Australian National University
Telephone: +353-(0)1 896 1888
Email: bourkem4@tcd.ie
Postal Address:
Department of Geography
Museum Building
Trinity College Dublin
Dublin 2
Research Area
I am a geomorphologist. My research interests lie in the area of extremes. My goal is to better understand geomorphic processes in extreme environments (deserts on Earth and on Mars) and during extreme events (floods, mass wasting). I currently have several NASA funded projects which are outlined below.
Rock breakdown in extreme environments
There remain two gaps in our scientific understanding of individual rock breakdown processes. First, despite the common use of form as a proxy for process on Earth and on other planetary surfaces process-form links still require clarification to identify unique signatures (feature uniqueness). Second, there is a need to continue to investigate the combined effects of processes operating on a rock surface over time (feature persistence). This work is undertaken in collaboration with Professor Viles at the Oxford Rock Breakdown Laboratory . There are opportunities to undertake graduate and undergraduate research projects associated with this research theme.
The role of volatiles (ice and water) in aeolian dune systems
Aeolian dunes on Mars may contain significant volatile reservoirs of ice, snow, or chemically bound hydrogen. Understanding the origin, age and process dynamics of these deposits is important for determining volatile reservoir location, magnitude and stability on Mars. This project uses field data from Earth analogues (Antarctica, Wyoming, Namibia and Arizona) to determine the cycling and sequestration of volatiles in aeolian dune systems. There are opportunities to undertake graduate and undergraduate research projects associated with this research theme.
Geomorphic signatures of paleofloods
Flooding from storms, hurricanes and cyclones is a natural and sometimes catastrophic environmental hazard. Climatic models predict an increase in the size and frequency of floods in many regions around the world. However, the climate data are mostly derived from short instrumental records. These records are often too short to include the infrequently occurring extreme events that cause such devastation. There are a suite of geomorphological signatures that preserve evidence of catastrophic floods beyond the instrumental record. A paleoflood record can be derived by applying geomorphological techniques to map flood deposits and state of the art geochronological tool to estimate the timing of events. This will enable a better understanding of the nature of past climate variability, the timing of extreme floods and their effect on the landscape. There are opportunities to undertake graduate and undergraduate research projects associated with this research theme.
Current Research and Research Opportunities
I have the following graduate research opportunities. Click here for available projects
Teaching:
At Junior Freshman Level, I teach on Natural Hazards in GG1022; on fluvial, aeolian and planetary geomorphology in GG1021 and on arid zone geomorphology in GG2024
At Senior Freshman level, I teach the desert environments of our solar system module.
College and Scientific Service:
Associate Editor for Aeolian Research
Editorial Advisory Board for Earth Surface Processes and Landforms.
Coordinator of the IAG working group on planetary geomorphology.
School of Natural Science INTEGER Committee
Publications:
Submitted
Diniega, S., Hansen, C.J., McElwaine, J.N., Hugenholtz, C.H., Dundas, C.M., McEwen, A.S., Bourke, M.C. A new dry hypothesis for the formation of Martian linear gullies. Submitted to Icarus.
Parteli, E.J.R., Duran, O., Bourke, M.C., Tsoar, H., Herrmann, H.J. Barchan dune asymmetry: Numerical investigation. Submitted to Aeolian Research.
Zimbelman, J.R., Bourke, M.C. and Lorenz, R.D. Recent developments in planetary aeolian studies and their terrestrial analogs, Submitted to Aeolian Research
Published
49.Geissler, P.E., Stantzos, N.W., Bridges, N.T., Bourke, M.C., Silvestro, S. and Fenton, L.K. (accepted) Shifting sands on Mars: insights from tropical intra-crater dunes. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, DOI: 10.1002/esp.3331 [abstract] [PDF]
48. Rodriguez, A.P., Bourke, M., Tanaka, K.L., Miyamoto, H., Kargel, J., Baker, V., Fairen, A.G., Davies, R.J., Bridget, L., Santiago, R.L., Hernandez, M.Z. and Berman, D.C (accepted) Infiltration of Martian outflow floodwaters into lowland cavernous systems. doi:10.1029/2012GL053225 [abstract] [PDF]
47. Hansen, C. J., Byrne, S., Portyankina, S., Bourke, M.C., Dundas, C., McEwen, A., Mellon, M., Pommerol, A., and Thomas, N.,(accepted), Observations of the Northern Seasonal Polar Cap on Mars I. Spring Sublimation Activity and Processes: Icarus. doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2012.09.024 [abstract]
46. Bridges, N.T., M.C. Bourke, P.E. Geissler, M.E. Banks, C.M. Colon, S. Diniega, M.P. Golombek, C.J. Hansen, S. Mattson, A.S. McEwen, M.T.. Mellon, N Stantzos, and B.J. Thompson (2012). Planet-Wide Sand Motion on Mars, Geology Vol. 40, No. 1, 31-34, doi: 10.1130/G32373.1.[PDF]
45. Clarke, J. and Bourke, M.C, (2011) Travertine and tufa from Dalhousie Springs (Australia) - Implications for recognizing Martian springs. In: W. B. Garry, J. E. Bleacher, (Eds.), Analogs for Planetary Exploration. Geological Society of America, Special paper, 2011, pp. 231-247. [PDF]
44. Hansen, C., Bourke, M.C, Bridges, N.T., Byrne, S., Colon, C., Diniega, S., Dundas, C.M., Herkenhoff, K., McEwen, A., Mellon, M.T., Portyankina, G. and Thomas, N. (2011) Seasonal Erosion and Restoration of Mars’ Northern Polar Dunes. Science, 331, 575, DOI: 10.1126/science.1197636. [PDF]
43. Gardin, E., Bourke, M.C Allemand, P. and Quantin, C. (2011) Dune features suggest past dune migration and possible geochemical cementation of aeolian sediments on Mars. Icarus. Vol 210, p. 590-596, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2011.01.005, [PDF]
42. Bourke, M.C, (2010) Barchan dune asymmetry: Observations from Mars and Earth. Icarus, 205(1): 183-197, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2009.08.023. [PDF]
41. Bourke, M.C, Fenton, L.K. and Lancaster, N. (Eds.), (2010). Planetary Dune Systems, Geomorphology 121, 1-132 pp.
40. Bourke, M.C, Lancaster, N., Fenton, L.K., Parteli, E.J.R., Zimbelman, J.R. and Radebaugh, J., (2010). Extraterrestrial dunes: An introduction to the special issue on planetary dune systems. Geomorphology, 121(1-2): 1-14, DOI:10.1016/j.geomorph.2010.04.007. [PDF]
39. Fenton, L.K., Bishop, M.A., Bourke, M.C, Bristow, C.S., Hayward, R.K., Horgan, B.H., Lancaster, N., Michaels, T.I., Tirsch, D., Titus, T.N. and A., V., (2010) Summary of the Second International Planetary Dunes Workshop: Planetary Analogs - Integrating Models, Remote Sensing, and Field Data, Alamosa, Colorado, USA, May 18-21, Aeolian Research. 2, 173-178, DOI: 10.1016/j.aeolia.2010.09.001. [PDF]
38. Hobbs, S.W., Paull, D.J. and Bourke, M.C, (2010). Aeolian processes and dune morphology in Gale Crater. Icarus: doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.06.006 [PDF]
37. Titus, T.N., Hayward, R.K. and Bourke, M.C, (2010) Interdisciplinary research produces results in the understanding of planetary dunes. Eos Trans. AGU, 91 (32) :281 [PDF]
36. Ewing, R., Peyret, A., Kocurek, G. and Bourke, M.C, (2010). Dune-field pattern formation and recent transporting winds in the Olympia Undae Dune Field, North Polar Region of Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), Vol. 15, E08005, doi:10.1029/2009JE003526.[PDF]
35. Viles, H., A., Ehlmann, B.L., Wilson, C., Cebula, T., Page, M. and Bourke, M.C, (2010) Simulating weathering of basalt on Mars and Earth by thermal cycling. Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2010GL043522 [PDF]
34. Bourke, M.C and Goudie, A.S., (2009). Varieties of barchan dunes in the Namib Desert and on Mars. Aeolian Research, 1: 45-54. doi:10.1016/j.aeolia.2009.05.002 [PDF]
33. Bourke, M.C, Ewing, R.C., Finnegan, D., McGowan, H.A., (2009). Sand dune movement in Victoria Valley, Antarctica. Geomorphology 109, 148-160, 10.1016/j.geomorph.2009.02.028. [PDF]
32. Bourke, M.C, Edgett, K.S., Cantor, B.A. (2008). Recent aeolian dune change on Mars. Geomorphology 94, 247-255. [PDF]
31. Bourke, M.C, Viles, H. A., Nicoli, J., Lyew-Ayee, P., Ghent, R. and Holmlund, J. (2008) Innovative applications of laser scanning and rapid prototype printing to rock breakdown experiments. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 33, 1614-1621. DOI: 10.1002/esp.1631 [PDF]
30. Feldman, W. C., Bourke, M.C, Elphic, R. C., Maurice, S., Bandfield, J., Prettyman, T. H., Diez, B., and Lawrence, D. J. (2008). Hydrogen Content of Sand Dunes within Olympia Undae. Icarus 196, 422-432, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2007.08.044. [PDF]
29. Ehlmann, B. L., H. A. Viles, and Bourke, M.C (2008), Quantitative morphologic analysis of boulder shape and surface texture to infer environmental history: A case study of rock breakdown at the Ephrata Fan, Channeled Scabland, Washington, J. Geophys. Res., 113, F02012, doi:10.1029/2007JF000872. [PDF]
28. Balme, M.R., Berman, D., Bourke, M.C and Zimbelman, J.R., (2008). Transverse Aeolian Ridges (TARs) on Mars. Geomorphology 101(4), 703-720. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.03.011. [PDF]
27. Tanaka, K. L., Rodriguez, J.A.P., Skinner, J.A., Bourke, M.C, Fortezzo, C.A., Herkenhoff, K.E., Kolbe, E.J., Okubo, C. North polar region of Mars: Advances in stratigraphy, structure, and erosional modification and possible correlations with south polar stratigraphy. (2008) Icarus 196, 318-358. 10.1016/j.icarus.2008.01.021 [PDF]
26. Titus, T. N., Lancaster, N., Hayward, R., Fenton, L., and Bourke, M.C (2008). Priorities for future research on planetary dunes. Eos Trans. AGU 89, 447-448. [PDF] [Online Supplementary Material]
25. Bourke, M.C and Viles, H.A., (2007). Introduction. In: M.C. Bourke and H.A. Viles (Eds.), A Photographic Atlas of Rock Breakdown Features in Geomorphic Environments. Planetary Science Institution, pp. 1-5. [Download]
24. Bourke, M.C., Haas, R., Brearley, J.A. and Viles, H., A., 2007. Fluvial Features. In: Bourke, M.C and H.A. Viles (Eds.), A Photographic Atlas of Rock Breakdown Features in Geomorphic Environments. Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, pp. 23-47.
23. Viles, H.A. and Bourke, M.C, (2007). Aeolian Features. In: M.C. Bourke and H.A. Viles (Eds), A Photographic Atlas of Rock Breakdown Features in Geomorphic Environments. Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, pp. 6-22.
22. Viles, H.A. and Bourke, M.C., (2007). Weathering Features. In: M.C. Bourke and H.A. Viles (Eds), A Photographic Atlas of Rock Breakdown Features in Geomorphic Environments. Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, pp. 48-74.
21. Rodriguez, J.A.P., Tanaka, K., Langevin, Y., Bourke, M.C, Kargel, J., Christensen, P., Sasaki, S., (2007). Recent aeolian erosion and deposition in the north polar plateau of Mars. Mars: The International Journal of Mars Science and Exploration, 3: 29-41. [PDF]
20. Hayward, R. K., Mullins, Fenton, L. K., K.F. Hare, T.M., Titus, T. N., Bourke, M.C, Colprete, A., Christensen, P. R. (2007) Mars Digital Dune Database. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets). 112(E11007): doi:10.1029/2007JE002943 [PDF]
19. Hayward, R. K., Mullins, Fenton, L. K., K.F. Hare, T.M., Titus, T. N., Bourke, M.C, Colprete, A., Christensen, P. R. (2007) Mars Digital Dune Database: MC2-MC29. USGS Open-File Report 2007-1158 Download database here
18. Bourke, M.C, Balme, M., Bayer, R., Williams, K.K. and Zimbelman, J.R. (2006), A comparison of methods used to estimate the height of sand dunes on Mars. Geomorphology 81(3-4), 440-452. [PDF]
17. Hasiotis, S.T. and Bourke, M.C (2006). Continental trace fossils and museum exhibits: displaying organism behavior frozen in time. The Geological Curator 8, 211-226. [PDF]
16. Weitz, C., R.P. Irwin, F. Chuang, Bourke, M.C, and D.A. Crown, (2006) Formation of a Terraced Fan Deposit in Coprates Catena, Mars, Icarus, 184, 436-451. [PDF]
15. Bourke, M.C, and M. Thorp (2005), Rainfall-triggered slope failures in eastern Ireland, Irish Geography, 38(1). [PDF]
14. Morrison, Z., Bourke, M.C., and C. Kelley (2005), Stop making it such a big issue: Gender inequality, denial and the experiences and perceptions of under-graduates at a British University, Women's Studies International Forum, 28(2-3): 150-162. [PDF]
13. Bhattacharya, J.P., Payenberg, T.H.D., Lang, S.C. and Bourke, M.C (2005). Dynamic river channel suggests a long-lived Noachian crater lake on Mars. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 32(L10201): doi:10.1029/2005GL022747. [PDF]
12. Bourke, M.C (2004) Scabland; Channeled Scabland. In, A.S.Goudie (ed.) Encyclopedia of Geomorphology, Routledge, London, pp.912-914. [PDF]
11. Bourke, M.C, Bullard, J. and Barnouin-Jha, O., (2004) Aeolian sediment transport pathways and aerodynamics at troughs on Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research, 109 (No. E7, E07005): doi:10.1029/2003JE002155. [PDF]
10. Miyamoto, H., Dohm, J. M., Baker, V.R., Beyer, R.A. and Bourke, M.C (2004), Dynamics of unusual debris flows on Martian sand dunes, Geophysical Research Letters, 31: doi:10.1029/2004GL020313. [PDF]
9. Bourke, M.C, Child, A. and Stokes, S. (2003) Optical age estimates for hyper-arid fluvial silts at Homeb, Namibia. Quaternary Science Reviews, Vol 22, 10-13 pp 1099 - 1103. [PDF]
8. Bourke, M.C. (2003) A small-scale throughflow outburst in a heterolithic ephemeral channel. Journal of Sedimentary Research. Vol 73, No. 1, P. 2-4. [PDF]
7. Bourke, M.C (2002) Suspended sediment concentrations and geomorphic effect of sub-bankfull flow in a central Australian stream. In, Dyer, F., Thoms, M. and Olley, J (eds.) The Structure, Function and Management Implications of Fluvial Sedimentary Systems. IAHS Publ. no. 276, pp. 315-324. [PDF]
6. Bulmer, M.H., Barnouin-Jha, O.S., Peiterson, M.N. and Bourke, M.C(2002) An Empirical Approach to Studying Debris Flows - Implications for Planetary Modeling Studies. Journal of Geophysical Research, Planets 107, E5. [PDF]
5. Pickup, G., Marks, A. and Bourke, M.C (2002) Paleoflood reconstruction on arid floodplains using geophysical survey data and hydraulic modeling. In, Ancient Floods, Modern Hazards: Principles and Applications of Paleoflood Hydrology. P.K. House, R.H. Webb, V.R. Baker, and D.R. Levish (Eds.), Water Science and Application, Volume 5, American Geophysical Union, Washington DC [PDF]
4. Bourke, M.C and Pickup, G. (1999) Fluvial form variablity in arid central Australia, in Miller, A. and Gupta, A. (eds.) Varieties of Fluvial Form, Wiley. pp 249-271. [PDF]
3. Bourke, M.C (1997) Channel adjustment to extreme floods in arid central Australia. Proceedings of the 2nd joint conference of the Institute of Australian Geographers and the New Zealand Geographical Society, p.488-492. [PDF]
2. Bourke, M.C (1997) The Age of Two Human Occupation Sites in the Eastern MacDonnell Ranges, Central Australia. Australian Archaeology, 45, pp 55-57. [PDF]
1. Bourke, M.C (1994) Cyclical construction and destruction of flood dominated floodplains in semiarid central Australia. In: L.J. Olive, R.J Loughlan, and J.A. Kesby (Editors), Variability in Stream Erosion and Sediment Transport, International Association of Hydrological Sciences, Wallingford, pp 113-123. [PDF]