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Dr. Rishitosh K. Sinha

PhD (IIT Gandhinagar)
Scientist/Engineer SE
Planetary Remote Sensing Section
Planetary Science Division, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Google scholar: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=2HPUCt4AAAAJ&hl=en
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rishitosh-Sinha
Telephone: 079-2631 4417

Academic Qualifications

  • Ph.D (Planetary Science), IIT Gandhinagar, Gujarat (2017-2022)
  • M.Tech (Remote Sensing & GIS) (Distinction), SRM University, Kattankulathur campus, Chennai (2009-2011)
  • B.Tech (Instrumentation and Control) (First class), SRM University, Kattankulathur campus, Chennai (2005-2009)

Expertise and Skills

  • Planetary Geomorphology (experienced in interpreting geological landforms in satellite images and in field)
  • Expertise in ArcMap/ENVI/QGIS
  • Applied statistics

Research Interests and Accomplishments

I am a planetary scientist with a research experience of 12 years. I am keenly focused on deciphering the surface processes prevailed on Mars, Moon and Venus through the morphological, topographic, chronological, and subsurface studies of geological landforms using remote sensing datasets. My current focus is studying the geological evolutionary history of water and ice related processes that have shaped the surface geomorphology of Mars. I also spend a lot of time analyzing the landing sites selected by ISRO/NASA for investigation by a rover/lander in a planetary mission. I have published 22 papers in international peer reviewed journals and my work has been cited for nearly 150 times. Teaching and supervising students are an important and most rewarding part of my role, and my aim is to make an internationally recognized research group in future.
  • My research work has established that Mars has experienced major, moderate and minor episodes of glaciation: implications for global climate change during the Late Amazonian (during 2013-2017).
  • My research work has established the role of debris-flow processes in gully formation on Mars: implications for most recent water flow on Mars (during 2017-2022).
  • My research work has contributed in listing Ladakh Himalaya as one of the potential analogues of Mars: implications for understanding snow melt driven processes (during 2017-2022).
  • Discovery of boulder-falls in Jezero crater: implications for currently active Mars (during 2020-2021).
  • My research work has revealed that the landing site of Chandrayaan-3 mission is located very close to a lobate thrust fault scarp, which was active very recently during the past ~20-30 Ma and triggered boulder-falls in the region.

Professional Experience

  • Jan 2022-Present - Scientist/Engineer SE, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India
  • 2017-Dec 2021 - Scientist/Engineer SD, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India
  • 2013-2017 - Scientist/Engineer SC, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India
  • 2011-2013 - Project Associate, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India

Awards

  • In December 2018: Best poster presentation award in the National Symposium on 'Advancements in Geospatial Technology for Societal Benefits and Annual Conventions of Indian Society of Geomatics (ISG) & Indian Society of Remote Sensing' held at Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, for the paper entitled 'Study of layered deposits in the East Melas Chasma, Mars using MCC, HiRISE, THEMIS and MOLA data'
  • In December 2016: Best poster presentation award in the National Symposium on 'Recent Advances in Remote Sensing and GIS with Special Emphasis on Mountain Ecosystems' held at IIRS, Dehradun, for the paper entitled 'Late Amazonian modification of impact craters within Newton basin, Mars: Implications for recent and episodic glaciation in the region
  • In February 2016: Best Poster award in National Space Science Symposium (NSSS) held at VSSC Trivandrum, for the paper entitled, ‘Thermal inertia estimation at Gale crater, Mars using Curiosity REMS data'
  • In September 2015: First Prize in Hindi Pakhwada "Hamara Karya" event held at Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad
  • In January 2014: Best Poster award in National Space Science Symposium (NSSS) held at Dibrugarh University, Assam, for the paper entitled, ‘Systematic mapping of exposed units in Mawrth Vallis and Hellas Planitia: Attempt for geomorphic characterization of hydrated and anhydrous regions on Mars'
  • In September 2012: First Prize in Hindi Pakhwada "Hamara Karya" event held at Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad
  • In February 2012: Second prize for poster in National Space Science Symposium (NSSS) held at SV University, Tirupati, for the paper entitled ‘Seasonal accumulation and evacuation: Modeling forced-flows of debris from cavity on an inclined plane on Mars’
  • In April 2011: Best Student award during M.Tech in Remote Sensing and GIS for the academic year 2010-2011
  • In March 2010: First Prize in a Technical Quiz conducted by Institute of Remote Sensing, College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University
  • In March 2009: Second prize for paper presentation in Cognizance held at IIT Roorkee, Roorkee, for the paper entitled ‘The space multispectral scanner: design of optics for capturing high resolution images’

Publications

  1. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Rani, A., Ruj, T., Bhardwaj, A., 2023, Geologic investigation of lobate scarps in the vicinity of Chandrayaan-3 landing site in the southern high latitudes of the moon , Icarus, Vol. 402, 115636.
  2. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Dwijesh Ray, Haas T.D., Conway, S.J. 2023, Morphologic and Morphometric Differences between Gullies Formed in Different Substrates on Mars: New Insights into the Gully Formation Processes , Earth Surface Dynamics Discussions, 1-30.
  3. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Dwijesh Ray, 2023, Morphological changes currently occurring in sand-filled gully channels on Mars: Implications for the role of substrates inside channels , Icarus, Vol. 367, 114557.
  4. Singh, D., Rishitosh K. Sinha, Singh, P., Roy, N., and Mukherjee, S., 2022, Astrobiological Potential of Fe/Mg Smectites with Special Emphasis on Jezero Crater, Mars 2020 Landing Site, Astrobiology, 22(5).
  5. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Dwijesh Ray, 2021, Extensive glaciation in the Erebus Montes region of Mars , Icarus, Vol. 367, 114557.
  6. Alka Rani, Amit Basu Sarbadhikari, Rishitosh K. Sinha, Karunatillake, S., Komatsu, G., & Bates, A., 2021, Evidence of Regionally Distributed Tectono‐Volcanism in a Floor Fractured Crater of North‐Central Arabia Terra, Mars, JGR Planets, Vol. 126(11).
  7. Vijayan, S., Harish, Kimi, K. B., Tuhi, S., Vigneshwaran, K., Rishitosh K. Sinha, Susan J. Conway, B. Sivaraman, Anil Bhardwaj, 2022, Boulder Fall Ejecta: Present day activity on Mars, GRL, Vol. 49, e2021GL096808.
  8. Changela, H. G., Chatzitheodoridis, E., Antunes, A., Beaty, D., Bouw, K., Bridges, J. C., ..., Rishitosh K. Sinha,……. & Hallsworth, J. E., 2021, Mars: new insights and unresolved questions , International Journal of Astrobiology, Vol. 20(6), 394-426.
  9. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Alka Rani, Susan J. Conway, Vijayan S., Amit Basu , Marion Massé, Nicolas Mangold, Anil Bhardwaj, 2020, Boulder fall activity in the Jezero crater, Mars, GRL, Vol. 47(23).
  10. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Ray, D., De Haas, T., & Conway, S. J., 2020, Global documentation of overlapping lobate deposits in Martian gullies, Icarus,352, 113979.
  11. Vijayan, S. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Harish and Ritu AnilKumar 2020, Evidence for multiple superposed fluvial deposits within Reuyl crater, Mars, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 125(3), e2019JE006136.
  12. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Vijayan, S.,Megha Bhatt, Nandita Kumari, Neeraj Srivastava, Indhu Varatharajan, Dwijesh Ray, Christian Wöhler, Anil Bhardwaj 2020, Geological characterization of Chandrayaan-2 landing site in the southern high latitudes of the Moon, Icarus,337, 113449.
  13. Rishitosh K. Sinha, S. Vijayan, Anil D. Shukla, Priyabrata Das and Falguni Bhattacharya, 2018, Gullies and debris-flows in Ladakh Himalaya, India: a potential Martian analogue, Geological Society, London, Special Publications 467, SP467. 9
  14. Rishitosh K. Sinha, and Vijayan S., 2017, Geomorphic investigation of craters in Alba Mons, Mars: Implications for Late Amazonian glacial activity in the region, Planetary and Space Science, 144, 32-48 (citations: 1)
  15. Rishitosh K. Sinha, S. Vijayan, and R. R. Bharti, 2017, Study of ice-related flow features around Tanaica Montes, Mars: Implications for late amazonian debris-covered glaciation, Icarus, 297, 217-239
  16. Rishitosh K. Sinha, S. Vijayan, and R. R. Bharti, 2016, Terrestrial rock glaciers: a potential analog for Martian lobate flow features (LFF), Land Surface and Cryosphere Remote Sensing III. Vol. 9877, p. 98770K. International Society for Optics and Photonics, 2016
  17. Rishitosh K. Sinha, and S.V.S. Murty, 2015, Amazonian modification of Moreux crater: Record of recent and episodic glaciation in the Protonilus Mensae region of Mars, Icarus, 297, 217-239 (citations: 6)
  18. Rishitosh K. Sinha, and S.V.S. Murty, 2013, Geomorphic signatures of glacial activity in the Alba Patera volcanic province: Implications for recent frost accumulation on Mars, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 118(8), 1609-1631 (citations: 4)
  19. Rishitosh K. Sinha, and S.V.S. Murty, 2013, Evidence of extensive glaciation in Deuteronilus Mensae, Mars: Inferences towards multiple glacial events in the past epochs, Planetary and Space Science, 86, 10-32 (citations: 9)
  20. Vijayan S., and Rishitosh K Sinha, 2017,   Amazonian fluvial outflow channels in Jovis Tholus region, Mars , JGR-Planets, Vol. 122 (5), p.927-949 (citations: 2)
    21. JGR-Planets Cover Page Image, May 2017 Issue
  21. Jain, S.K., Rishitosh K. Sinha, Chaudhary, A., and Shukla, S., 2015, Expansion of a glacial lake, Tsho Chubda, Chamkhar Chu Basin, Hindukush Himalaya, Bhutan, Natural Hazards, 75(2), 1451-1464 (citations: 6)
  22. Chauhan, P., Kaur, P., Srivastava, N., Rishitosh K. Sinha, Jain, N., and Murty, S.V.S, 2015, Hyperspectral remote sensing of planetary surfaces: an insight into composition of inner planets and small bodies in the solar system, Current Science, 108(5), 915 (citations: 2)

Year 1

  • No. Title
    Authors
    Journal

Conference and Symposium

    1. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Vijayan S. and Rajiv R. Bharti (March 2017), Lobate debris apron and lineated valley fill around Tanaica Montes, Mars: Implications for late Amazonian glacial activity in the region, 48th Proc. of Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (Oral).

    2. Vijayan, S and Rishitosh K. Sinha (March 2017), Amazonian fluvial activity in the Jovis Tholus region of Mars, 48th Proc. of Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (Poster)

    3. Vijayan, S and Rishitosh K. Sinha (March 2017), Reuyl crater, Mars: Insights from fluvial activities, 48th Proc. of Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (Oral).

    4. Rishitosh K. Sinha and Vijayan S. (March 2016), Geomorphic signature of lobate flow feature in the craters of Newton Basin, Mars: Implications for moderate debris-covered glaciation, 47th Proc. of Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (Poster).

    5. Vijayan, S and Rishitosh K. Sinha (March 2016), Multi layered ejecta (MLE) craters over Arabia terra, Mars: Crater ages and its Implications, 47th Proc. of Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (Poster).

    6. Vijayan S., Rishitosh K. Sinha and S.V.S Murty (March 2015), Glacial Environment between the Interval of Concentric Crater Fill and Gully Formation on Mars: Insights from Lobate Flow Features in Alba Patera Craters, 46th Proc. of Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (Poster).

    7. Bose, S., Vijayan S., Rishitosh K. Sinha and S.V.S Murty (March 2015), Estimation of Thermal Inertia, Sensible Heat and Latent Heat Over Three Landing Sites on Mars, 46th Proc. of Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (Poster).

    8. Vijayan S., Rishitosh K. Sinha and S.V.S Murty (March 2014), Characteristics of craters with multi layered ejecta in the equatorial region of Mars, 45th Proc. of Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (Poster).

    9. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Vijayan S, and S.V.S Murty (March 2014), Modes of gully formation around north east of argyre basin and the role of volatile discharge due to microclimatic shifts, 45th Proc. of Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (Poster).

    10. Rishitosh K. Sinha and S.V.S Murty (March 2013), Nature and distribution of olivine in Moreux crater in northern mid-latitude of Mars, 44th Proc. of Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (Poster).

    11. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Vijayan S. (February 2016), Evidence for moderate phase of debris-covered glaciation in the Late Amazonian History of Mars: Insights from lobate flow feature in Alba Patera, 19th National Space Science Symposium (NSSS), VSSC Trivandrum (Oral).

    12. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Vijayan S. and Rajiv R. Bharti, (February 2016), Evidence for lobate debris apron and lineated valley fill within Tanaica Montes, Mars: Implications for extensive debris-covered glaciation and preservation of Late Amazonian ice in the region, 19th National Space Science Symposium (NSSS), VSSC Trivandrum (Poster and one minute oral).

    13. Vijayan S and Rishitosh K. Sinha (February 2016), Geomorphic characterisation of Late Hesperian Reuyl crater, Mars: Implications for history of fluvial processes in the region, 19th National Space Science Symposium (NSSS), VSSC Trivandrum (Oral).

    14. Samarpita Sarkar, Rishitosh K. Sinha, Vijayan S and Debabrata Banerjee, (February 2016), Mineralogical and morphological characteristics of layered deposits in Schiaparelli basin located in Arabia Terra region of Mars, 19th National Space Science Symposium (NSSS), VSSC Trivandrum (Poster and one minute oral).

    15. Poornima, K.V., Vijayan S, Rishitosh K. Sinha, and Debabrata Banerjee, (February 2016), Detection of recent aeolian modifications in the Nili Patera Dune Field: Implications of ongoing wind depositional activities on Mars, 19th National Space Science Symposium (NSSS), VSSC Trivandrum (Oral).

    16. Subhadyouti Bose, Vijayan S, Rishitosh K. Sinha, Jayesh Pabari and Debabrata Banerjee, (February 2016), Thermal inertia estimation at Gale crater, Mars using Curiosity REMS data, 19th National Space Science Symposium (NSSS), VSSC Trivandrum (Poster).

    17. Vijayan S., Subhadyouti Bose, Rishitosh K. Sinha (February 2016), Thermophysical properties of the portions of wall consistent with occurrence of landslide deposits in Shalbatana Vallis, Mars, 19th National Space Science Symposium (NSSS), VSSC Trivandrum (Poster).

    18. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Vijayan S., and S.V.S Murty (January-February 2014), Geomorphic investigation of Martian gullies, 18th National Space Science Symposium (NSSS), Dibrugarh University, Assam (Oral).

    19. Indhu, V., Rishitosh K. Sinha, Vijayan S., and S.V.S Murty (January-February 2014), Systematic mapping of exposed units in Mawrth Vallis and Hellas Planitia: Attempt for geomorphic characterization of hydrated and anhydrous regions on Mars, 18th National Space Science Symposium (NSSS), Dibrugarh University, Assam (Poster).

    20. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Vijayan S. (December 2016), Origin of debris-flow gullies on Mars: Insights from gullies in Ladakh, India, In ISRS-ISG National Symposium, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India (Oral).

    21. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Sanjay K. Jain, and Vijayan S. (December 2016), Expansion of Chubda glacial lake, Chamkhar Chu Basin, Hindukush Himalaya, Bhutan, In ISRS-ISG National Symposium, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India (Oral)

    22. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Vijayan S. (December 2016), Late Amazonian modification of impact craters within Newton basin, Mars: Implications for recent and episodic glaciation in the region, In ISRS-ISG National Symposium, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India (Poster).

    23. Ritu Anilkumar, Vijayan S., and Rishitosh K. Sinha (December 2016), Geomorphological and Thermal Analysis of a Layered Ejecta Crater in the Solis Planum Region of Mars, In ISRS-ISG National Symposium, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India (Oral).

    24. Sarkar, S., Rishitosh K. Sinha, Vijayan S., and D. Banerjee (December 2016), Geology of Schiaparelli basin, Mars, In ISRS-ISG National Symposium, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India (Oral).

    25. Vijayan, S and Rishitosh K. Sinha (December 2016), Geomorphic characterization of Hesperian aged Reuyl crater, Mars: Implications for history of fluvial processes, In ISRS-ISG National Symposium, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India (Oral).

    26. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Anil D. Shukla, Vijayan S, and F. Bhattacharya (June 2016), Gullies in Ladakh, India: Potential Analogs for Martian Gullies, In Martian Gullies and their Earth Analogues going to be held at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London (Oral).

    27. Rishitosh K. Sinha, Vijayan S. and Rajiv R. Bharti (April 2016), Terrestrial rock glaciers: A potential analog for Martian Lobate flow features (LFF), In SPIE Asia-Pacific Remote Sensing, New Delhi (Oral).

    28. Rishitosh K. Sinha, and Vijayan S. (January 2016), Remote Sensing and GIS: A Potential Tool for Disaster Management" in the National Workshop on "Disaster Management, Techniques and Strategy" organized by Rajiv Gandhi Government P.G. College, Ambikapur (Oral).

    29. Rishitosh K. Sinha and Murty, S.V.S. (November 2013), Evidences for climate-driven sequential degradation and presence of mantle-derived Noachian materials from Moreux crater, Mars, in the first COSPAR Symposium, Bangkok, Thailand (Oral).

    30. Rishitosh K. Sinha and Murty, S.V.S. (July 2013), Younger and older glacial landforms in Alba Patera volcanic province: Evidences for lean and excess frost accumulation on Mars, in Two day symposium on ‘Moon and Mars’, SAC Ahmedabad (Oral).

     

     

     

     


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