About

Benjamin Cardenas is an Assistant Professor at Penn State in the Department of Geosciences. His research focuses on understanding how the sedimentary record reflects the evolution of ancient landscapes. He employs a variety of approaches including field geology, 3D seismic interpretation of Earth’s subsurface, numerical modeling, and the investigation of modern sedimentary systems. His work extends beyond Earth, utilizing remote sensing data of Mars and other planets and moons, as well as rover observations, to reconstruct the histories of different worlds across the solar system and to examine sedimentary processes and records formed within unique boundary conditions. His recent activities include studying martian fluvial ridges to measure structural tilt and reconstructing ancient shoreline topography on Mars. Cardenas's contributions aim to elucidate the processes shaping planetary surfaces and sedimentary records, advancing our understanding of planetary geology and sedimentology.

Research topics

• Geology
• Paleontology
• Geomorphology

Selected publications

• Modeling Lake Bonneville Paleoshoreline Erosion at Mars‐Like Rates and Durations: Implications for the Preservation of Erosional Martian Shorelines and Viability as Evidence for a Martian Ocean

  Journal of Geophysical Research Planets · 2025-04-01 · 4 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Mars may have had an ancient ocean filling its northern lowlands until around 3.5 billion years ago. The existence or lack of such a large body of water would have important implications on the ancient martian climate, landscapes, and habitability. One proposed piece of evidence is preserved paleoshorelines on the martian surface along the dichotomy boundary. Paleoshorelines on Earth are often recognized as subtle breaks in slopes that are laterally persistent and at consistent elevations. Is it probable, or even possible, that paleoshoreline topography on Mars might persist for 3.5 billion years, even at the slow erosion rates estimated for the martian surface? Here, we use topographic data showing well‐preserved Earth‐analog erosional paleoshorelines from Lake Bonneville in modern day Utah and numerically model their erosion at Mars‐like rates for 3.5 billion years. Depending on the chosen diffusivity value and scale of the terrain used in each experiment, identifiable paleoshoreline features may or may not persist after the modeled erosion; higher diffusivities and smaller scales favor paleoshoreline erosion and smaller diffusivities and larger scales favoring paleoshoreline preservation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Evidence for Ancient Ocean Coastal Deposits Revealed by Zhurong Rover Radar on Mars

  2025-03-14

  preprintOpen accessCorresponding

  The northern lowlands of early Mars may have contained significant quantities of liquid water. However, the ocean hypothesis remains controversial due to the lack of conclusive evidence from the Martian subsurface [1-5]. We use data from the Zhurong Rover Penetrating Radar (RoPeR) [6-7] on the southern Utopia Planitia to identify subsurface dipping reflectors indicative of an ancient prograding shoreline. The reflectors dip unidirectionally with inclinations in the range 6º-20º and are imaged to a thickness of 10-35 meters along an uninterrupted 1.3 km northward shoreline-perpendicular traverse. The consistent dip inclinations, absence of dissection by fluvial channel along the extended traverse, and low permittivity of the sediments are consistent with terrestrial coastal deposits – and discount fluvial, aeolian or magmatic origins favored elsewhere on Mars. The structure, thickness and length of the section support voluminous supply of onshore sediments into a large body of water, rather than a merely localized and short-lived melt event. Our findings not only lend support to the hypothesis of an ancient Martian ocean in the northern plains but also provide crucial insights into the evolution of Mars' ancient environment.Reference：[1] Parker T. J. et al. (1989) Icarus, 82, 111-145.[2] Citron R. I. et al. (2018) Nature, 555, 643-646.[3] Perron J. T. et al. (2007) Nature, 447, 840-843.[4] Carr M. H. and Head III J. W. (2010) Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 294, 185–203.[5] Xiao L. et al. (2023) Natl. Sci. Rev., 10, nwad137.[6] Li C. et al. (2021) Space Sci. Rev., 217, 57. [7] Li C. et al. (2022) Nature, 610, 308-312.

  PublisherDOI

• Supplemental Material: Crater-wall degradation and bedrock-chute formation from dry rockfall erosion

  2025-03-05

  preprintOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  <p>A full description of the rockfall model used in this manuscript.</p>

  PublisherDOI

• Ancient ocean coastal deposits imaged on Mars

  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2025-02-24 · 32 citations

  articleOpen access

  The northern lowlands of early Mars could have contained a significant quantity of liquid water. However, the ocean hypothesis remains controversial due to the lack of conclusive evidence from the Martian subsurface. We use data from the Zhurong Rover Penetrating Radar on the southern Utopia Planitia to identify subsurface dipping reflectors indicative of an ancient prograding shoreline. The reflectors dip unidirectionally with inclinations in the range 6° to 20° and are imaged to a thickness of 10 to 35 m along an uninterrupted 1.3 km northward shoreline-perpendicular traverse. The consistent dip inclinations, absence of dissection by fluvial channels along the extended traverse, and low permittivity of the sediments are consistent with terrestrial coastal deposits-and discount fluvial, aeolian, or magmatic origins favored elsewhere on Mars. The structure, thickness, and length of the section support voluminous supply of onshore sediments into a large body of water, rather than a merely localized and short-lived melt event. Our findings not only provide support for the existence of an ancient Martian ocean in the northern plains but also offer crucial insights into the evolution of the ancient Martian environment.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Crater-wall degradation and bedrock-chute formation from dry rockfall erosion

  Geology · 2025-03-12 · 3 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract Impact cratering is a key process on rocky bodies in the solar system. The subsequent degradation of impact-crater walls can record ancient environmental conditions, such as surface water on Mars. Distinguishing erosional landforms associated with liquids from those associated with dry processes remains challenging. Here, we developed a model for landform development under a dry end-member case of degradation by rockfall. Unlike canonical models of crater degradation by regolith creep that smooth and relax hillslopes, results show that rockfalls produce channelized landforms. Rockfall locally oversteepens slopes, leading to increased rockfall generation, which is then funneled into topographic lows, causing chute development through topographic feedback similar to river incision. While typically neglected in landscape evolution models, rockfalls can shape crater walls and steep rocky slopes, creating channelized landforms by dry processes that are not possible with regolith creep alone.

  PublisherDOI

• Supplemental Material: Crater-wall degradation and bedrock-chute formation from dry rockfall erosion

  2025-03-05

  preprintOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  <p>A full description of the rockfall model used in this manuscript.</p>

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Global distribution of martian sedimentary basins

  Abstracts with programs - Geological Society of America · 2025-01-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• THE MARTIAN SEDIMENTARY ROCK RECORD: RECENT ADVANCES IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF DEPOSITIONAL PROCESSES AND ENVIRONMENTS

  HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) · 2024-07-22

  articleOpen access

  International audience

  PublisherOA PDF

• Identifying Motivators, Facilitators, and Barriers to Engagement and Retention in Anal Cancer Screening Among Men and Women with HIV in One Ryan White HIV/AIDS Clinic

  AIDS Patient Care and STDs · 2024-10-14 · 4 citations

  article

  Anal squamous cell carcinoma disproportionally affects people with HIV (PWH); however, engagement in anal cancer screening is low in many settings. This study was conducted to assess knowledge and perceptions of anal cancer screening to identify factors in the engagement and retention in prevention services among PWH. Semistructured interviews were conducted among adult PWH eligible for anal cancer screening in our Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program clinic. Descriptive statistics were tabulated; thematic analyses were performed to identify emerging motivators, facilitators, and barriers. Among 26 PWH, 9 had not been screened, 8 had undergone Papanicolaou (Pap) testing alone, and 9 had undergone anoscopy. The median age of the cohort was 55.2 years; 54% identified as men who have sex with men, and 54% identified as Black. In the unscreened cohort, participants were motivated by investing in their health and positive attitudes toward cancer prevention however were deterred by a lack of referral and low awareness about screening. Among those who had Pap testing, trust in healthcare providers and abnormal testing results were motivators to engagement, whereas lack of perceived risk of anal cancer and worry about pain of an anoscopy were prominent barriers. Among those who had anoscopy, perceived risk, positive experience with the procedure, and use of anxiolytics prior to anoscopy were motivators, whereas anxiety around a new cancer diagnosis and negative experience with anoscopy were barriers. Clinics seeking to build or strengthen their anal cancer screening programs can address the barriers described in this study to promote access to anal cancer screening among PWH.

  PublisherDOI

• Landforms Associated With the Aspect‐Controlled Exhumation of Crater‐Filling Alluvial Strata on Mars

  Geophysical Research Letters · 2023-08-08 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract Fluvial channel belts, the deposits accumulated in rivers surrounded by floodplain deposits, are sensitive environmental recorders. Across Mars, wind has exposed ancient channel belts via the preferential erosion of floodplain strata, creating landforms called fluvial ridges. However, river deposits observed by the Mars rover Curiosity are instead exposed along a series of steep slopes and shallow benches, and short, truncated ridges we call noses. Here, we tested the hypothesis that these exposures record channel‐belt exhumation with a preferential direction of scarp retreat (a slope‐aspect control), in contrast with models of fluvial‐ridge formation. Using a landscape evolution model sensitive to lithology and an Earth‐analog 3D‐seismic‐reflectance volume imaging fluvial stratigraphy, we generated synthetic erosional landscapes where channel‐belt exhumation created benches and noses rather than fluvial ridges, depending on the orientation of belts relative to the preferential direction of scarp retreat, which we suggest is set by winds steered along crater topography.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• David Mohrig

  The University of Texas at Austin

  44 shared

• T. A. Goudge

  The University of Texas at Austin

  21 shared

• C. M. Hughes

  University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

  19 shared

• Travis Swanson

  Water Institute of the Gulf

  14 shared

• Michael P. Lamb

  California Institute of Technology

  13 shared

• J. S. Levy

  10 shared

• Gary Kocurek

  The University of Texas at Austin

  10 shared

• J. M. Swartz

  The University of Texas at Austin

  8 shared

Education

• PhD, Jackson School of Geosciences

  University of Texas at Austin

  2019

• Master of Science, Jackson School of Geosciences

  University of Texas at Austin

  2014

• Bachelor of Science, Geology, Mathematics Minor

  University of Texas at San Antonio

  2012

Awards & honors

• EMS Alumni Awards