Planetary Sciences & Volcanology@ UB
Tracy KP Gregg, Professor and Chair
In the Planetary Science Group in UB's Department of Earth Sciences, we're interested in learning how familiar geologic processes on Earth--like volcanism and erosion--behave differently on other planets and environments.
My research focusses on volcanic eruptions and lava flow emplacement. I'm particularly interested in basaltic systems, and have studied volcanoes in Peru, Iceland, Hawaii, the Juan de Fuca Ridge, the East Pacific Rise, and on Mars, Venus, the Moon, and Io.
Tracy Gregg's Curriculum Vita (CV) here.
Understand Earth to Understand the Planets
This view of a tumulus from Rock Corall Butte, Eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho, shows us what shield fields on Mars and Venus might look like (without the plants). (Image courtesy of T. Gregg.)
Sinuous Rilles and Canali
How Did These Form?
It's really challenging to make a fully turbulent basaltic lava flow--on Earth or any other terrestrial planet. Most sinuous rilles on the Moon and Venus are probabl collapsed lava tubes. (Image courtesy of NASA/LROC/ASU.)
Current Student Projects
Volcanoes in the Solar System
Currently, students are investigating Ganis Chamsa on Venus; the erosion of Hadriacus Mons, Mars; the geology of the Gruithuisen Domes on the Moon; and lunar sinuous rilles. The photo above is of 4 Craters Volcanic Field in Oregon where we did some recon in 2024.
Venus Enthusiasts
Venus Resources, Venus Early Career Folks,
As a Venus enthusiast, I closely follow the activities of the Venus Exploration Advisory Group (VEXAG). Many of their documents are posted here.