Saira Hamid

Post Doc Scholar,

School Of Earth and Space Exploration

sshamid1@asu.edu

Arizona State University PSF Room F660B Tempe, AZ 85821
Campus: Tempe
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Long Bio

Dr. Saira Hamid is a Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the School of Earth and Space Exploration, focusing on planetary-scale processes such as volcanism, climate, aerial ecosystems, and the evolution of microorganisms in extreme environments. She is also actively involved in planetary missions and instrumentation to explore a variety of planetary bodies.

Education

PhD Geological Sciences, Arizona State University 2024
M.S. Geological Sciences, Arizona State University 2022
B.S. Geosciences, Georgia State University 2018
Geographic Information Science Certificate, Georgia State University 2018

Google Scholar URL

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&view_op=list_works&gmla=AOv-ny_YvXyn…

Research Interests

My research interests span planetary science, astrobiology, and microbiology, with a particular focus on the nature of planetary-scale processes. I am interested in how volcanic ash may serve as a nutrient source for microbial communities in freezing, hyper-arid environments. I additionally explore Earth's aerial ecosystem, studying the role of mineral dust transport on atmospheric dynamics, the aeromicrobiome, and the potential influence of microbial life on cloud formation. I aim to use this research to inform mechanisms for the detection of life in the atmospheres or extreme conditions of other planets, including Venus, the gas giants, and Mars.

I also study planetary geology and volcanology, particularly focusing on the volcanic history of Mars and investigations into the Moon’s interior. I am additionally involved in mission planning and the development of instrumentation aimed at investigating celestial bodies.

Publications

Hamid, S. S., et al. (In review) Precipitation Induced by Explosive Volcanism on Mars and its Implications for Ice in Unexpected Equatorial Regions.

Hamid, S. S., et al. (In review) Warming, Cooling, and Surface Ice Accumulation Initiated by the Release of Water from the Athabasca Valles Flood Lava Eruption on Mars.

Mather, T. A., Shorttle, O., Hamid, S., Gaillard, F., & Noack, L. (In review) Volcanism and Planetary Atmospheres: Earth, Our Solar System, and Beyond. The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes, Third Edition.

Braude, A. S., Kerber, L., Lefèvre, F., Jaziri, A. Y., Hamid, S. S., Lefèvre, M., Maurice, M., Millour, E., Forget, F. (In review) The effect of volcanic outgassing of sulphur on early Martian surface temperatures using a 3-D Global Climate Model.

Hamid, S. S., et al. (2024) The Delivery of Water Ice to the Martian Surface by Passive Degassing. Icarus: Ices in the Solar System; origin, evolution, and distribution (416), 116084. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2024.116084

Hamid, S. S., et al. (2023) A Long-lived Lunar Magnetic Field Powered by Convection in the Core and a Basal Magma Ocean. Planet. Sci. J. 4 88. https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/accb99

Hamid S., O’Rourke J.G. (2022) Modeling of the Lunar Magma Ocean. In: Cudnik B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Lunar Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05546-6_28-1

Expertise Areas

Atmospheric Processes

Climate Science

Planetary Sciences

Volcanology