[1] We used a suite of techniques, including those emulating compositional data sets obtained from Mars orbit and obtainable at the Mars surface, to examine aqueous alteration of basaltic rocks from Iceland as a mineralogic and geochemical analog for Noachian environments on Mars. A sample suite was collected for laboratory measurement of (1) whole-rock visible/near-infrared (VNIR) reflectance ...

Without exogenous rock-derived nutrient sources, terrestrial ecosystems may eventually regress or reach a terminal steady state, but the degree to which exogenous nutrient sources buffer or slow to a theoretical terminal steady state remains unclear. We used strontium isotope ratios (Sr/Sr) as a tracer and measured Sr/Sr values in aeolian dust, soils, and vegetation across a well-constrained 3M...

Distribution Endemic to the six largest Ha-waiian islands. Size Greatly variable, typically reaches 20–24 m (66–79 ft) in height; may be much smaller on lava rock or boggy soils. Habitat Wide range, 1–2500 m (1–8200 ft) elevation with rainfall of 400–10,000 mm (16–400 in). Largest component of lowland and mon-tane wet and mesic forests, dry forests, subal-pine shrublands, and new lava flows. Ve...