Thesis: The Chemical Structure of Venus’s Atmosphere and Interior Evolution of Kuiper Belt Objects
I presented my thesis over youtube and the reccording can be seen here. A pdf of my thesis can be found here.Education
University of California Santa Cruz
Ph.D. in Earth Science, June 2020
Thesis: The chemical structure of Venus's atmosphere and interior evolution of Kuiper belt objectsNorthern Arizona University
Bachlors of Science in Astronomy, May 2014Red Rocks Community College
Associate of Arts, May 2010
Professional Experience
Arizona State University
Postoctoral Scientist, 2020-PresentSouthwest Research Institute
Student Scientist, 2012-2014
Press Coverage
Jupiter's Early Radiation on the Galilean Satellites:
Scientific American
Oceans on the Uranian satellites:
New Scientist
Radar reflections on Mars do not require liquid water:
ASU, Universe Today, Sky and Telescope, CosmoQuest, ScienceNews
Hot Start Pluto:
UCSC, CNN, Bad Astronomy, Space.com, phys.org, How on Earth podcast, CBC, Cosmoquest Twitch broadcast, ScienceNews
Publications
2024
The impact of rheology model choices on tidal heating studies
Bierson, C. J. (2024)
Icarus, DOI:10.1016/j.icarus.2024.116026, ReprintJupiter’s ocean worlds: Dynamic ices and the search for life
Howell, S. M., Bierson, C. J., Kalousová, K., Leonard, E., Steinbrügge, G., & Wolfenbarger, N. (2024)
Ices in the Solar-System (book), DOI:10.1016/B978-0-323-99324-1.00003-1
2023
Europa's Ocean Translates Interior Tidal Heating Patterns to the Ice-Ocean Boundary
D. G. Lemasquerier, Bierson, C.J., K. M. Soderlund (2023)
AGU Advances, DOI: 10.1029/2023AV000994, Open AccessJupiter's Early Luminosity May Have Driven off Io's Initial Water Inventory
Bierson, C.J., Fortney, J.J., Trinh, T.T., Kreslavsky, M.A. (2023)
Planetary Science Journal, DOI: 10.3847/PSJ/ace2c7, Open AccessTidal Heating and the Interior Structure of Io
Keane, J.T., Matsuyama, I., Bierson, C.J., Trinh, A. (2023)
In Book: Io: A New View of Jupiter’s Moon , DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-25670-7Slow evolution of Europa’s interior: metamorphic ocean origin, delayed metallic core formation, and limited seafloor volcanism
Trinh, T.T, Bierson, C.J. O'Rourke, J.G. (2023)
Science Advances, DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adf3955, Contact for reprintPhotochemically produced SO2 in the atmosphere of WASP-39b
Tsai, S. et al. (2023)
Nature, DOI:10.1038/s41586-023-05902-2, ArXiv:arXiv:2211.10490
2022
The Geologic Impact of 16 Psyche’s Surface Temperatures
Bierson, C.J., Elkins-Tanton, L.T., O'Rourke, J.G. (2022)
Planetary Science Journal, DOI:10.3847/PSJ/ac83a7, Open AccessDistinguishing the Origin of Asteroid (16) Psyche
Elkins-Tanton, L.T., Asphaug, E., Bell, J.F., Bierson, C.J., Bills, B.G., Bottke, W.F., Courville, S.W., Dibb, S.D., Jun, I., Lawrence, D.J. and Marchi, S. (2022)
Space Science Reviews, DOI:10.1007/s11214-022-00880-9 Contact me for reprintThe Geophysical Environment of (486958) Arrokoth— A Small Kuiper Belt Object Explored by New Horizons
Keane, J.T., Porter, S.B., Beyer, R.A., Umurhan, O.M., McKinnon, W.B., Moore, J.M., Spencer, J.R., Stern, S.A., Bierson, C.J., Binzel, R.P. and Hamilton, D.P. (2022)
JGR:Planets, DOI:10.1029/2021JE007068 Contact me for reprintA note on the possibility of subsurface oceans on the Uranian satellites
Carver J. Bierson and Francis Nimmo (2022)
Icarus, DOI:10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114776 Contact me for reprintA Near Surface Temperature Model of Arrokoth
Umurhan, O.M., Grundy, W.M., Bird, M.K., Beyer, R., Keane, J.T., Linscott, I.R., Birch, S., Bierson, C., Young, L.A., Stern, S.A. and Lisse, C.M., (2022)
Planetary Science Journal, arXiv: arXiv:2202.10485A bimodal distribution of haze in Pluto’s atmosphere
Fan, S., Gao, P., Zhang, X., Adams, D.J., Kutsop, N.W., Bierson, C. J., Liu, C., Yang, J., Young, L.A., Cheng, A.F. and Yung, Y. L. (2022)
Nature Communications , DOI:10.1038/s41467-021-27811-6 Open AccessA Simple Condensation Model for the H2SO4-H2O Gas-Cloud System on Venus
Dai, L., Zhang, X., Shao, W.D., Bierson, C. J. and Cui, J., A (2022)
JGR: Planets, DOI:10.1029/2021JE007060 Contact me for reprint
2021
Strong MARSIS Radar Reflections from the Base of Martian South Polar Cap may be due to Conductive Ice or Minerals
Carver J. Bierson, S. Tulaczyk, S. W. Courville, and N. E. Putzig. (2021)
Geophysical Research Letters, DOI:10.1029/2021GL093880 Contact me for reprintCharon's Far Side Geomorphology
Ross A. Beyer, Stuart J. Robbins, Chloe Beddingfield1, Carver J. Bierson, Kimberly Ennico, Tod R. Lauer, William B. McKinnon, Jeffrey M. Moore, Kirby Runyon, Catherine B. Olkin, Paul M. Schenk, Kelsi N. Singer, John R. Spencer, S. Alan Stern, Harold A. Weaver, Leslie A. Young and The New Horizons Science Team (2021)
Planetary Science Journal, DOI:10.3847/PSJ/ac09e9 (Open Access)Tidal Heating Did Not Dry out Io and Europa
Carver J. Bierson, and Gregor Steinbrügge (2021)
Planetary Science Journal, DOI:10.3847/PSJ/abf48d (Open Access)Heat Flux Constraints from Variance Spectra of Pluto and Charon from Limb Profile Topography
J. W. Conrad, F. Nimmo, R. A. Beyer, C. J. Bierson, and P. M. Schenk (2021)
JGR:Planets, DOI:10.1029/2020JE006641 Contact me for reprintInvestigating the Influences of Crustal Thickness and Temperature on the Uplift of Mantle Materials Beneath Large Impact Craters on the Moon
M. Ding, J. M. Soderblom, C. J. Bierson and M. T. Zuber (2021)
JGR:Planets, DOI:10.1029/2020JE006533 Contact me for reprint
2020
Explaining the Galilean Satellites’ Density Gradient by Hydrodynamic Escape
Carver J. Bierson and Francis Nimmo (2020)
The Astrophysical Journal Letters, DOI:10.3847/2041-8213/aba11a Contact me for reprintEvidence for a hot start and early ocean formation on Pluto
Carver J. Bierson, Francis Nimmo, S. Alan Stern (2020)
Nature Geoscience, DOI:10.1038/s41561-020-0595-0 Contact me for reprintChemical cycling in the Venusian atmosphere: A full photochemical model from the surface to 110 km
Carver J. Bierson and Xi Zhang (2020)
JGR:Planets, DOI:10.1029/2019JE006159 Contact me for reprintRevisiting the Sulfur-Water Chemical System in the Middle Atmosphere of Venus
Wencheng Shao, Xi Zhang, Carver J. Bierson, Therese Encrenaz (2020)
JGR:Planets, PreprintHDO and SO2 thermal mapping on Venus. V. Evidence for a long-term anti-correlation
T. Encrenaz, T. K. Greathouse, E. Marcq, H. Sagawa, T. Widemann, B. Bezard, T. Fouchet, F. Lef`evre, S. Lebonnois, S. K. Atreya, Y. J. Lee, R. Giles, S. Watanabe, W. Shao, Xi Zhang, and C. J. Bierson (2020)
Astronomy and Astrophysics, DOI:10.1051/0004-6361/202037741Pluto's Far Side
S. A. Stern, O. L. White, P. J. McGovern, J. T. Keane, J. W. Conrad, C. J. Bierson , C. B. Olkin, P. M. Schenk, J. M. Moore, K. D. Runyon, H. A. Weaver, L. A. Young, K. Ennico, The New Horizons Team (2020)
Icarus, Preprint
2019
Initial results from the New Horizons exploration of 2014 MU69, a small Kuiper Belt object
Stern, S.A. et al. (2019)
Science, DOI:10.1126/science.aaw9771 Contact me for reprintUsing the density of Kuiper Belt Objects to constrain their composition and formation history
Carver J. Bierson, Francis Nimmo (2019)
Icarus, DOI:10.1016/j.icarus.2019.01.027 Contact me for reprintThe Formation and Stability of Buried Polar CO2 Deposits on Mars
Curtis V.Manning, Bierson, C. J., Nathaniel E.Putzig, Christopher P. McKay (2019)
Icarus, DOI:10.1016/j.icarus.2018.07.021 Contact me for reprint
2018
Constraints on Lunar Crustal Porosity from the Gravitational Signature of Impact Craters
Min Ding, Jason M. Soderblom, Carver J. Bierson, Francis Nimmo, Colleen Milbury, Maria T. Zuber (2018)
JGR:Planets, DOI:10.1029/2018JE005654 Contact me for reprintImplications of the observed Pluto–Charon density contrast
Bierson, C. J. Nimmo, F. McKinnon, W. B. (2018)
Icarus, DOI:10.1016/j.icarus.2018.03.007 ReprintBasins, fractures and volcanoes: Global cartography and topography of Pluto from New Horizons
Paul M. Schenk, Ross A. Beyer, William B. McKinnon, Jeffrey M. Moore, John R. Spencer, Oliver L. White, Kelsi Singer, Francis Nimmo, Carver Thomason Tod R.Lauer, Stuart Robbins, Orkan M. Umurhan, William M. Grundy, S. Alan Stern, Harold A.Weaver, Leslie A. Young, K. Ennico Smith, Cathy Olkin, and the New Horizons Geology and Geophysics Investigation Team (2018)
Icarus, DOI:10.1016/j.icarus.2018.06.008 Contact me for reprint2017
GRAIL gravity observations of the transition from complex crater to peak-ring basin on the Moon: Implications for crustal structure and impact basin formation
David MH Baker, James W Head, Roger J Phillips, Gregory A Neumann, Carver J Bierson, David E Smith, Maria T Zuber (2017)
Icarus, DOI:10.1016/j.icarus.2017.03.02 ReprintOrigin of the Pluto–Charon system: Constraints from the New Horizons flyby
William B McKinnon, SA Stern, HA Weaver, F Nimmo, CJ Bierson, WM Grundy, JC Cook, DP Cruikshank, AH Parker, JM Moore, JR Spencer, LA Young, CB Olkin, K Ennico Smith (2017)
Icarus, DOI:10.1016/j.icarus.2016.11.019 ReprintMean radius and shape of Pluto and Charon from New Horizons images
Francis Nimmo, Orkan Umurhan, Carey M Lisse, Carver J Bierson, Tod R Lauer, Marc W Buie, Henry B Throop, Josh A Kammer, James H Roberts, William B McKinnon, Amanda M Zangari, Jeffrey M Moore, S Alan Stern, Leslie A Young, Harold A Weaver, Cathy B Olkin, Kim Ennico (2017)
Icarus, DOI:10.1016/j.icarus.2016.06.027 Reprint2016
Reorientation of Sputnik Planitia implies a subsurface ocean on Pluto
F Nimmo, DP Hamilton, WB McKinnon, PM Schenk, RP Binzel, CJ Bierson, RA Beyer, JM Moore, SA Stern, HA Weaver, CB Olkin, LA Young, KE Smith, JR Spencer, R Beyer, M Buie, B Buratti, A Cheng, D Cruikshank, C Dalle Ore, A Earle, R Gladstone, W Grundy, AD Howard, T Lauer, I Linscott, J Parker, S Porter, H Reitsema, D Reuter, JH Roberts, S Robbins, M Showalter, K Singer, D Strobel, M Summers, L Tyler, OL White, OM Umurhan, M Banks, O Barnouin, V Bray, B Carcich, A Chaikin, C Chavez, C Conrad, C Howett, J Hofgartner, J Kammer, C Lisse, A Marcotte, A Parker, K Retherford, M Saina, K Runyon, E Schindhelm, J Stansberry, A Steffl, T Stryk, H Throop, C Tsang, A Verbiscer, H Winters, A Zangari (2016)
Nature, DOI:10.1038/nature20148 Contact me for reprintInteractions between complex craters and the lunar crust: Analysis using GRAIL data
CJ Bierson, Roger J Phillips, Francis Nimmo, Jonathan Besserer, Colleen Milbury, James T Keane, Jason M Soderblom, Maria T Zuber (2016)
JGR:Planets, DOI:10.1002/2016JE005090 Contact me for reprintA test for Io's magma ocean: Modeling tidal dissipation with a partially molten mantle
CJ Bierson, F Nimmo (2016)
Icarus, DOI:10.1002/2016JE005005 Contact me for reprintStratigraphy and evolution of the buried CO2 deposit in the Martian south polar cap
CJ Bierson, RJ Phillips, IB Smith, SE Wood, NE Putzig, D Nunes, S Byrne (2016)
Geophysical Research Letters, DOI:10.1002/2016GL068457 Contact me for reprint2015
The fractured Moon: Production and saturation of porosity in the lunar highlands from impact cratering
Jason M Soderblom, Alexander J Evans, Brandon C Johnson, H Jay Melosh, Katarina Miljković, Roger J Phillips, Jeffrey C Andrews‐Hanna, Carver J Bierson, James W Head, Colleen Milbury, Gregory A Neumann, Francis Nimmo, David E Smith, Sean C Solomon, Michael M Sori, Mark A Wieczorek, Maria T Zuber (2015)
Geophysical Research Letters, DOI:10.1002/2015GL065022 Contact me for reprint