Colin Dundas head shot

Colin Dundas

Planetary Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey

Colin Dundas is a Research Geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). He studies planetary geomorphology and surface processes using spacecraft imagery and topography data as well as numerical modeling, with a particular focus on active processes and change detection. He is a Co-Investigator and Science Theme Lead for Mass Wasting on the HiRISE camera team. Past and current research areas include:

  • Current activity on Martian slopes, including Recurring Slope Lineae and changes in gullies
  • Martian ground ice, ice-exposing impact craters, and thermokarst landforms
  • Large lava flows and lava-volatile interactions on Mars and Io
  • Effects of target properties and secondary craters on crater chronology
  • Floods in Martian outflow channels 
  • Volatile-loss landforms in the Solar System

Latest Planetary Radio Appearances

Flowing Water on Mars? Not So Much

Mars scientists dubbed them recurring slope lineae or RSLs. They sure looked like evidence of liquid water flowing down hillsides and ridges on the Red Planet. New research led by USGS Planetary Geologist Colin Dundas says otherwise.