C. M. Dundas

Papers

Total Citations

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About

C. M. Dundas is a planetary scientist whose research focuses on the geomorphology and surface processes of icy bodies in the outer solar system, with particular emphasis on Mars. His work has fundamentally advanced our understanding of how ice-related landforms evolve, especially through the study of sublimation, thermal contraction, and impact cratering in volatile-rich terrains. Dundas is best known for his discovery and characterization of active processes on Mars, including the identification of fresh impact craters that expose subsurface water ice, which has reshaped models of the Martian cryosphere. His highly cited 2016 paper on target property contrasts resolved long-standing discrepancies in lunar crater size-frequency distributions, demonstrating how variations in surface material properties can mimic age differences—a methodological breakthrough with broad implications for planetary chronology. With over 70 citations on that work alone, Dundas’s contributions have been instrumental in interpreting spacecraft data from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and HiRISE, and his findings on present-day ice exposure have direct relevance to future human exploration and in-situ resource utilization.