Cynthia Sassenroth
About Cynthia Sassenroth
I am a planetary geomorphologist specializing in surface processes and landscape evolution on both Earth and Mars, with a focus on permafrost, glacial, fluvial, and marine dynamics. My research aims to understand how landscapes have evolved under the influence of water, to understand their potential for habitability.
A central part of my research involves Earth analogue studies in Arctic regions such as Svalbard, carried out in close collaboration with the international Svalbard Permafrost Landforms as Analogues for Mars (SPLAM) research team (https://www.gu.se/en/research/splam). I work on patterned ground features formed by the interaction of permafrost, water, and subsurface geology. These landscapes offer valuable insights as analogues for Martian mid-latitudes, where I investigate the formation and development of permafrost and glacial landforms through detailed geomorphological mapping and landscape analysis. This research contributes to a better understanding of Mars’ climatic history and its potential to support life.