RESEARCH
Titan Wind Waves
Cornell University
August 2022 - Present
Titan, a large moon of Saturn, is the only body in our solar system, beyond Earth, with evidence of stable liquids on it's surface. However, these liquids are not water, they are mixtures of liquid methane and ethane in large lakes and seas. I use numerical modeling to understand the formation and propagation of waves on titan's lakes and seas driven by surface winds. Understanding Titan's waves is essential to understanding the costal geomorphology of Titan's lakes and seas and how wave erosion plays a part in shaping the coastline.
Publications:
Numerical Modeling of Wind-Driven Waves on Titan’s Hydrocarbon Lakes and Seas. Detelich, C. E., Schneck, U. G., Hayes, A. G., Curcic, M., Perron, T., Steckloff, J. JGR: Planets, 2025. (in prep)
Modeling Wind-Driven Ocean Waves on Other Planets: Applications to Mars, Titan, and Exoplanets. Schneck, U. G., Detelich, C. E., Curcic, M, Ashton, A. D., Hayes, A. G., Perron, T. JGR: Planets, 2025. (in prep)
Abstracts:
(invited) Surf’s Up on Titan: Modeling the seasonality of Wind-Driven Hydrocarbon Waves on Ligeia Mare and Ontario Lacus. Detelich, C. E., Schenk, U. G., Hayes, A. G., Curcic, M. American Geophysical Union Conference, 2025.
Producing Wind-Driven Waves on Titan: Coupling a 4D Wind-Wave Model to Modern GCM Results. Detelich, C. E., Schneck, U. G., Hayes, A. G., Curcic, M., Perron, T. 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Oral Presentation, 2025.
Waves in Alien Seas. Schneck, U. G., Detelich, C. E., Curcic, M., Ashton, A. D., Perron, J. T., Hayes, A. American Geophysical Union Conference, 2024.
Surfing Extraterrestrial Waves: Solving the Mysteries of Titan’s Lakes. Detelich, C. E., Schneck, U. G., Hayes, A. G., Perron, J. T., and Steckloff, J. American Geophysical Union Conference, Oral Presentation, 2023.
(invited) Titan Waves. Detelich, C. E., Schneck, U. G., Hayes, A. G., Perron, J. T., and Steckloff, J. Northeast Titan Meeting, Oral Presentation, 2023.
Europa Tectonics and geophysics
University of Alaska Anchorage | Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory | Cornell University
August 2019 - Present
Europa, an icy moon of Jupiter, is heavily tectonically deformed due to various potential global-scale stresses. With an extremely young surface age of only ~90 million years, a mechanism for recycling large swaths of Europa's icy crust is necessary in order to compensate for the creation of new surface material from dilational bands.
I investigate large scale tectonic features on Europa, how they relate to potential global tidal stresses, and whether the tectonic features can be explained with plate-like movement. Specifically, I've investigated Argadnel Regio, Agenor Linea, Astypalaea Linea, Libya Linea, and surrounding regions.
For this investigation, I use programs such as ArcGIS to create highly detailed maps of the mentioned study regions. I also use SatStressGUI to model how fractures on Europa should be oriented given various tidal stress parameters. I also use GPlates to reconstruct disaggregated terrain and gain an understanding of how the terrain looked prior to deformation.
Publications:
3D Geodynamical Modeling of Sill Driven Double Ridge Formation on Europa. Detelich, C. E., Evans, A., McGovern, P., Hayes, A. G., Dombard, A., Collins, G. C. 2025. (in prep)
Evidence in Support of a Plate Tectonic Paradigm for Europa: A Tectonic Study of Argadnel Regio and Agenor Linea. Detelich, C. E., Kattenhorn, S. A., 2025. (in prep)
Potential landing sites: a comprehensive reconnaissance assessment of the Europa Clipper trajectory. Scully, J., Belgacem, I., Parekh, R., Grima, C., Phillips, C. B., Craft, K. L., Collins, G. C., Detelich, C., et al., and the Europa Clipper Reconnaissance Focus Group. Planetary Science Journal, 2025.
The Europa Imaging System (EIS) Investigation. Turtle, E.P., McEwen, A.S., Patterson, G.W., Ernst, C.M., Elder, C.M., Slack, K.A., Hawkins, S.E., McDermott, J., Meyer, H., DeMajistre, R., Espiritu, R., Bland, M., Becker, M., Centurelli, J., Collins, G.C., Corlies, P., Darlington, H., Derr, C., Daubar, I.J., Detelich, C., et al. Space Science Reviews, 2024.
Episodic Plate Tectonics on Europa: Evidence for Widespread Patches of Mobile-Lid Behavior in the Antijovian Hemisphere. Collins, G. C., Patterson, G. W., Detelich, C. E., Prockter, L. M., Kattenhorn, S. A., Cooper, C. M., Rhoden, A. R., Cutler, B. B., Oldrid, S. R., Perkins, R. P., & Rezza, C. A. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 2022.
Regional Scale Tectonic Features at Argadnel Regio and Agenor Linea, Europa: Evidence in Support of a Plate Tectonic Paradigm (Master's Thesis). Detelich, C. E., 2021. University of Alaska Anchorage. | Link
Abstracts:
Cracking the Code to Europa’s Double Ridges: Building a 3D viscoelastoplastic model of Europa’s lithosphere. Detelich, C. E., Hayes, A. G., Dombard, A., McGovern, P., Evans, A. American Geophysical Union Conference, 2025.
Cracking the Code to Europa’s Double Ridges: Building a 3D viscoelastoplastic model of Europa’s lithosphere. Detelich, C. E., Hayes, A. G., Dombard, A., McGovern, P., Evans, A. Europa Clipper Team Meeting, Poster Presentation, 2025.
Cracking the Code: Developing a 3D Geodynamical Model of Europa’s Double Ridges. Detelich, C. E., Hayes, A. G., Dombard, A., Evans, A., McGovern, P. NASA Outer Planet Assessment Group Meeting, Lighting Talk & Poster Presentation, 2025.
Developing a 3D Geodynamical Model of Europa’s Double Ridges. Detelich, C. E., Hayes, A. G., Dombard, A. J., Evans, A. J., McGovern, P. J. 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Poster Presentation, 2025.
Using Europa Imaging System (EIS) Color Filters to Characterize Europa’s Surface Composition. Keiper, J. C., Trumbo, S. K., Detelich, C. E. 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 2025.
Potential Landing Sites: A Comprehensive Reconnaissance Assessment of the Europa ClipperTrajectory. Scully, J. E. C., Belgacem, I., Parekh, R., Grima, C., Phillips, Craft, K. L., C. B., Collins, G., Detelich, C. E., Leonard, E. J., Mishra, I., Patterson, W., Prockter, L. M., Stickle, A. M., Sutton, S., Wyrick, D. Y., Elder, C. M., McEwen, A. S., O’Shea, C. M., Turner, J. E., and the Europa Clipper Reconnaissance Focus Group 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 2025.
Reconnaissance of potential landing sites by Europa Clipper. Scully, J. E. C., Belgacem, I., Parekh, R., Grima, C., Phillips, C. B., Collins, G., Craft, K. L., Detelich, C. E., Leonard, E. J., Mishra, I., Patterson, W., Prockter, L. M., Sutton, S., Stickle, A. M., Wyrick, D. Y. American Geophyiscal Union Conference, 2024.
Cracking the Code of Europa’s Double Ridges: Using Thermomechanical Modeling to Elucidate Astrobiological Potential. Detelich, C. E., Hayes, A. G., Evans, A., McGovern, P., and Collins, G. AbGradCon, Poster Presentation & Lightning Talk, 2024.
The Europa Imaging System (EIS): High-Resolution, 3-D Insight into Europa’s Geology, Ice Shell, and Potential for Current Activity. Turtle, E. P., …, Detelich, C. E., et al. American Geophysical Union Conference, Poster Presentation, 2023.
The Europa Imaging System (EIS): High-Resolution, 3-D Insight into Europa’s Geology, Ice Shell, and Potential for Current Activity. Turtle, E. P., …, Detelich, C. E., et al. 54th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Poster Presentation, 2023.
(invited) A Brief History of Plate Motions on Europa: Astypalaea Linea, Libya Linea, and Cyclades Macula. Detelich, C. E., Collins, G. C., and Patterson, G. W. Geological Society of America Conference, OralPresentation, 2022.
Global-Scale Tidal Forcing and Plate Tectonics have Both Shaped the Tectonic Evolution of
Europa. Detelich, C. E. and Kattenhorn, S. A. 53rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, PosterPresentation, 2022.
Reconstructing the History of Plate Motions Involved with the Formation of Libya Linea, Astypalaea Linea, and Cyclades Macula, Europa. Detelich, C. E., Patterson, G. W., and Collins, G. C. 53rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Poster Presentation, 2022.
Regional Scale Tectonic Features at Argadnel Regio and Agenor Linea, Europa: Plate Tectonic Evidence or Global Tidal Forcing? Detelich, C. E. and Kattenhorn, S. A. 52nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Oral Presentation, 2021.
Distribution and Significance of Tectonic Patterns in Argadnel Regio, Europa. Detelich, C. E. and Kattenhorn, S. A. 51st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Poster Presentation, 2020.
Press
Cornell Chronicle | October 2024
"Scientists supporting mission to assess Europa’s habitability"
The Cornell Daily Sun | October 2024
Planetary News - Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) | December 2022
"Europa's Surface May be an Analog to Plate Tectonics on Earth"
Eos - Science News by AGU | November 2022
"Europa's Plate Tectonic Activity is Unlike Earth's"
International Astronomical Union (IAU) | August 2021
"Names Approved for Europa: Ancaeus Linea, Arachne Linea, and Acacallis Linea"
Iapetus Geomorphology
North Carolina State University
August 2016 - August 2019
Iapetus, an icy moon of Saturn, has an enigmatic equatorial ridge with elevations of up to 20 kilometers. I morphologically characterized this ridge and conducted areal crater density analysis to determine the ridge's age relative to its surroundings in an effort to determine the origin of this feature. I presented this work at the 49th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, where I earned a Dwornik Award for my poster presentation. This research was published in Icarus in 2021 and had a figure displayed as the journal issue's cover image.
Publications:
The morphology and age of the Iapetus equatorial ridge supports an exogenic origin. Detelich, C. E., Byrne, P. K., Dombard, A. J., and Schenk, P. M. Icarus, 2021.
Abstracts:
Investigating the Morphology of the Iapetus Equatorial Ridge. Detelich, C. E., Byrne, P. K., Dombard, A. J., and Schenk, P. M. 49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Poster Presentation, 2018.
Investigating the Morphology of the Iapetus Equatorial Ridge. Detelich, C. E., Byrne, P. K., Dombard, A. J., and Schenk, P. M. North Carolina State University Undergraduate Research Symposium., Poster Presentation, 2017.
Press
International Association for Geomorphology | August 2021
Mars Surface Processes
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (June 2019- August 2019)
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Summer 2017)
NC State University (January 2017 - December 2017)
Mars Aeolian Erosion | NASA/ORISE Internship at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab
The Olympus Maculae are a series of low-albedo, low-dust, high thermal inertia features located within the Olympus Mons Aureole ~200 kilometers west of Olympus Mons on Mars. My preliminary research aimed to conduct the first full characterization of the Olympus Maculae where I have mapped thousands of aeolian and volcanic features across the region. This research was presented at the Geological Society of America (GSA) conference in 2018 and at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) in 2019.
Mars Fluvial Erosion | Internship at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
During the summer of 2017, I worked with a team of Smithsonian researchers to investigate the erosional processes and characteristics of basaltic sediment. This project aimed to discover distinct characteristics of basaltic sediment, observable by Mars rovers, that would provide insight into martian sediment transport processes (fluvial, aeolian, or glacial). During my internship, I analyzed samples of Hawaiian and Australian basaltic sediments at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Additionally, I mapped fluvial channels on Mars for comparison to the geomorphology of basaltic fluvial channels on Earth. I traveled to Hawai'i for two weeks for fieldwork related to basaltic fluvial channels and basaltic sediment.
Mars Tectonics | Undergraduate Research Assistant at NC State
Noctis Labyrinthus is a highly tectonically deformed region of Mars located between Valles Marineris and the Tharsis volcanoes. I worked with a team of undergraduates to map normal faults within this region to supplement the research of an upper-level Ph.D. student.
Publications:
Cycles of Change: Long and Short Term Aeolian Evolution at the Olympus Maculae, Mars. Runyon, K., Detelich, C., Seelos, K., Viviano, C., Buczkowski, D., O’Connor, R., Harryman, J., Peña, A. Planetary and Space Science, 2024.
Abstracts:
Geologic Setting of the Olympus Maculae, Mars. Seelos, K. D., Detelich, C. E., Runyon, K. D., Murchie, S. L., Bishop, J. L., Rogers, A. D., and Kraft, K. E. 51st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Poster Presentation, 2020.
Characterizing Anomalous Wind Eroded Terrain on Mars: The Olympus Maculae. Detelich, C. E., Runyon, K. D, and Seelos, K. D. 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Poster Presentation, 2019.
Variably dusty yardangs in Mars’ Olympus Maculae. Runyon, K. D., Seelos, K. D., and Detelich, C. E. EPSC-DPS, 2019.
Clues to the Aeolian History of Medusa Fossae Materials as Observed in the Dust-Free Windows of the Olympus Maculae, Mars. Detelich, C. E., Runyon, K. D, and Seelos, K. D. Geological Society of America Conference, Oral Presentation, 2018.