1. Blowing things up with sincerity
The “Impact Group”: Betty Pierazzo +
Natasha Artemieva & Boris Ivanov
Research Interests:
Role of target properties on
the impact cratering process
Impact cratering on various
planetary surfaces:
Mars, Earth, Moon
Effects of impacts on climate
and environment
Models allow to verify the physics of the process and study conditions beyond the reach of experiments

2. Research Projects Elisabetta Pierazzo
Validation and benchmarking of impact codes: A broadbased effort of the impact cratering modeling community (Yr 2)
NASA-PGG - CoIs: Keith Holsapple, Kevin Housen + 12 collaborators
Effects of lithologies on impact cratering: Numerical modeling of known terrestrial craters (Yr 2)
NASA-PGG - CoIs: N.A. Artemieva & B.A. Ivanov (Russian Acad. Sci., Moscow)
3) Impact cratering on Mars: hydrothermal systems, ejecta and ramparts (Yr 2)
NASA-MFR - CoIs: N.A. Artemieva & B.A. Ivanov (Russian Acad. Sci.)
4) Direct Numerical Simulation of Comet Impacts and Low-Density Atmospheric Flow on the Moon and the Effects on Ice Deposition in Cold Traps (Yr 3, CoI)
NASA-Atmospheres (UofTX Subcontract; David Goldstein PI)
5) Impacts and environmental catastrophes: A study of the effects of impact events on the climate system (just ended)
NASA-Exobiology - Collaboration with NCAR

3. Elisabetta Pierazzo
Validation and benchmarking of impact codes: A broadbased effort of the impact cratering modeling community (Yr 2)
NASA-PGG - CoIs: Keith Holsapple, Kevin Housen + 12 collaborators
 International with involvement of at least 15 scientists
 Two abstracts on first benchmark and validation test

4. Elisabetta Pierazzo
Effects of lithologies on impact cratering: Numerical modeling of known terrestrial craters (Yr 2)
NASA-PGG - CoIs: N.A. Artemieva & B.A. Ivanov (Russian Acad. Sci., Moscow)
Investigate the role of material properties, target complexities and impact conditions on material ejection
 Paper on Meteor Crater (submitted)
Cloud, D=108m
Intact, D=32.4m
vimp=16.7 km/s vimp=11.8 km/s

5. Elisabetta Pierazzo
Direct Numerical Simulation of Comet Impacts and Low-Density Atmospheric Flow on the Moon and the Effects on Ice Deposition in Cold Traps (Yr 3)
NASA-Atmospheres (UofTX Subcontract; David Goldstein PI)
Combine 3D hydrocode modeling of impacts with molecular flow of a gas cloud, including chemistry and condensation/sublimation

6. Elisabetta Pierazzo
NASA-E/PO grant: The Explorer's Guide to Impact Craters or “Motivating learning about STEM careers, research, and content through the study of impact craters”
Introduce the study of impact craters through 1) virtual tours of impact craters, 2) computer simulations of the impact process, and 3) examination of impact rock samples