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Photo of Gerald (Wes) Patterson

Gerald (Wes) Patterson

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Planetary geologist
240-228-9571
  • Ph.D., Geological Sciences
    2007, Brown University
  • B.S., Geology
    1997, University of Florida

I am a planetary geologist with experience in visible-light and radar remote sensing of the Moon and icy satellites of Juptier and Saturn. My research focuses on understanding geological and geophysical processes operating on planetary surfaces, with a focus on icy satellite tectonics and lunar volatiles. I am currently the Principal Investigator for the Miniature Radio Frequency (Mini-RF) instrument on the NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, a Co-Investigator on the EIS and REASON instruments on the NASA Europa Clipper mission, a Co-Investigator on the RIME instrument on the ESA Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer (JUICE) mission, and a participating scientist for the ISS instrument on the NASA Cassini mission.

Notable Awards and Leadership

Year(s) Description
2011 - 2014 NASA Europa Habitability Mission Science Definition Team

Scholarly Publications

Fracturing and flow: Investigations on the formation of shallow water sills on Europa

Icarus, 2016
Kathleen L. Craft, G. Wes Patterson, Robert P. Lowell, Leonid Germanovich, (2016), Fracturing and flow: Investigations on the formation of shallow water sills on Europa, Icarus, 274, 297-313

LRO-LAMP detection of geologically young craters within lunar permanently shaded regions

Icarus, 2016
Kathleen E. Mandt, Thomas K. Greathouse, Kurt D. Retherford, G. Randall Gladstone, Andrew P. Jordan, Myriam Lemelin, Steven D. Koeber, Ernest Bowman-Cisneros, G. Wesley Patterson, Mark Robinson, Paul G. Lucey, Amanda R. Hendrix, Dana Hurley, Angela M. Stickle, Wayne Pryor, (2016), LRO-LAMP detection of geologically young craters within lunar permanently shaded regions, Icarus, 273, 114-120

Mini-RF and LROC observations of mare crater layering relationships

Icarus, 2016
A. M. Stickle, G. W. Patterson, J. T. S. Cahill, D. B. J. Bussey, (2016), Mini-RF and LROC observations of mare crater layering relationships, Icarus, 273, 224-236

The Miniature Radio Frequency instrument's (Mini-RF) global observations of Earth's Moon

Icarus, 2014
Joshua T. S. Cahill, B. J. Thomson, G. Wesley Patterson, D. Benjamin J. Bussey, Catherine D. Neish, Norberto R. Lopez, F. Scott Turner, T. Aldridge, M. McAdam, H. M. Meyer, R. K. Raney, L. M. Carter, P. D. Spudis, H. Hiesinger, J. H. Pasckert, (2014), The Miniature Radio Frequency instrument's (Mini-RF) global observations of Earth's Moon, Icarus, 243, 173-190

RIME: RADAR FOR ICY MOON EXPLORATION

2013 Ieee International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (Igarss), 2013
L. Bruzzone, J. J. Plaut, G. Alberti, D. D. Blankenship, F. Bovolo, B. A. Campbell, A. Ferro, Y. Gim, W. Kofman, G. Komatsu, W. McKinnon, G. Mitri, R. Orosei, G. W. Patterson, D. Plettemeier, R. Seu, IEEE, (2013), RIME: RADAR FOR ICY MOON EXPLORATION, 2013 Ieee International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (Igarss), 3907-3910

Flanking fractures and the formation of double ridges on Europa

Icarus, 2013
Andrew J. Dombard, G. Wesley Patterson, Adam P. Lederer, Louise M. Prockter, (2013), Flanking fractures and the formation of double ridges on Europa, Icarus, 223, 74-81

Science Potential from a Europa Lander

Astrobiology, 2013
R. T. Pappalardo, S. Vance, F. Bagenal, B. G. Bills, D. L. Blaney, D. D. Blankenship, W. B. Brinckerhoff, J. E. P. Connerney, K. P. Hand, T. M. Hoehler, J. S. Leisner, W. S. Kurth, M. A. McGrath, M. T. Mellon, J. M. Moore, G. W. Patterson, L. M. Prockter, D. A. Senske, B. E. Schmidt, E. L. Shock, D. E. Smith, K. M. Soderlund, (2013), Science Potential from a Europa Lander, Astrobiology, 13, 740-773

Constraints on the detection of cryovolcanic plumes on Europa

Planetary and Space Science, 2013
Lynnae C. Quick, Olivier S. Barnouin, Louise M. Prockter, G. Wesley Patterson, (2013), Constraints on the detection of cryovolcanic plumes on Europa, Planetary and Space Science, 86, 1-9

Evidence for water ice on the moon: Results for anomalous polar craters from the LRO Mini-RF imaging radar

Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 2013
P. D. Spudis, D. B. J. Bussey, S. M. Baloga, J. T. S. Cahill, L. S. Glaze, G. W. Patterson, R. K. Raney, T. W. Thompson, B. J. Thomson, E. A. Ustinov, (2013), Evidence for water ice on the moon: Results for anomalous polar craters from the LRO Mini-RF imaging radar, Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 118, 2016-2029

EXPLORING FOR ICE WITH BISTATIC RADAR OBSERVATIONS OF THE MOON USING THE ARECIBO OBSERVATORY & THE MINI-RF INSTRUMENT ON LRO.

Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 2012
D. B. J. Bussey, R. Schulze, D. E. Wahl, M. Nolan, R. Jensen, G. W. Patterson, F. S. Turner, D. A. Yocky, J. T. S. Cahill, R. K. Raney, C. Neish, P. D. Spudis, C. V. Jakowatz, Mini-RF Team, (2012), EXPLORING FOR ICE WITH BISTATIC RADAR OBSERVATIONS OF THE MOON USING THE ARECIBO OBSERVATORY & THE MINI-RF INSTRUMENT ON LRO., Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 47, A91

Observational constraints on the identification and distribution of chaotic terrain on icy satellites

Icarus, 2012
C. D. Neish, L. M. Prockter, G. W. Patterson, (2012), Observational constraints on the identification and distribution of chaotic terrain on icy satellites, Icarus, 221, 72-79

Characterizing electron bombardment of Europa's surface by location and depth

Icarus, 2012
G. Wesley Patterson, Chris Paranicas, Louise M. Prockter, (2012), Characterizing electron bombardment of Europa's surface by location and depth, Icarus, 220, 286-290

The m-chi decomposition of hybrid dual-polarimetric radar data with application to lunar craters

Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 2012
R. Keith Raney, Joshua T. S. Cahill, G. Wesley Patterson, D. Benjamin J. Bussey, (2012), The m-chi decomposition of hybrid dual-polarimetric radar data with application to lunar craters, Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 117

THE M-CHI DECOMPOSITION OF HYBRID DUAL-POLARIMETRIC RADAR DATA

2012 Ieee International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (Igarss), 2012
R. Keith Raney, Joshua T. S. Cahill, G. Wesley Patterson, D. Benjamin J. Bussey, IEEE, (2012), THE M-CHI DECOMPOSITION OF HYBRID DUAL-POLARIMETRIC RADAR DATA, 2012 Ieee International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (Igarss), 5093-5096

An upper limit for ice in Shackleton crater as revealed by LRO Mini-RF orbital radar

Geophysical Research Letters, 2012
B. J. Thomson, D. B. J. Bussey, C. D. Neish, J. T. S. Cahill, E. Heggy, R. L. Kirk, G. W. Patterson, R. K. Raney, P. D. Spudis, T. W. Thompson, E. A. Ustinov, (2012), An upper limit for ice in Shackleton crater as revealed by LRO Mini-RF orbital radar, Geophysical Research Letters, 39

The nature of lunar volatiles as revealed by Mini-RF observations of the LCROSS impact site

Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 2011
C. D. Neish, D. B. J. Bussey, P. Spudis, W. Marshall, B. J. Thomson, G. W. Patterson, L. M. Carter, (2011), The nature of lunar volatiles as revealed by Mini-RF observations of the LCROSS impact site, Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 116

Active formation of 'chaos terrain' over shallow subsurface water on Europa

Nature, 2011
B. E. Schmidt, D. D. Blankenship, G. W. Patterson, P. M. Schenk, (2011), Active formation of 'chaos terrain' over shallow subsurface water on Europa, Nature, 479, 502-505

Segmented lineaments on Europa: Implications for the formation of ridge complexes and bright bands

Icarus, 2010
G. Wesley Patterson, James W. Head, (2010), Segmented lineaments on Europa: Implications for the formation of ridge complexes and bright bands, Icarus, 205, 528-539

Characteristics of Icy Surfaces

Space Science Reviews, 2010
Louise M. Prockter, Rosaly M. C. Lopes, Bernd Giese, Ralf Jaumann, Ralph D. Lorenz, Robert T. Pappalardo, Gerald W. Patterson, Peter C. Thomas, Elizabeth P. Turtle, Roland J. Wagner, (2010), Characteristics of Icy Surfaces, Space Science Reviews, 153, 63-111

Plate motion on Europa and nonrigid behavior of the icy lithosphere: The Castalia Macula region

Journal of Structural Geology, 2006
G. W. Patterson, J. W. Head, R. T. Pappalardo, (2006), Plate motion on Europa and nonrigid behavior of the icy lithosphere: The Castalia Macula region, Journal of Structural Geology, 28, 2237-2258