Having studied geology (amongst other subjects) the MARSIS and SHARAD instruments on the mars orbiters interested me greatly - but there seem to have been very little in the way of results publicised for these instruments. There have been a few images showing sub surface features and thats about it.

Does anyone else feel dissapointed by the lack of publicity these instruments have got? Are they still operating - it all seems to have gone rather quiet.

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There have been several papers and many abstracts. The reason results seen slow coming in is that it takes a lot of work to process radar data.

So far both radars have elucidated the subsurface structure of the northern plains, the polar caps, the Medusa Fossa formation. Marsis has also looked at Phobos and done a lot of surveys of the ionospheric structure of Mars. They have not succeeded in finding liquid water, at least at a scale and depth resolveable by the radars.

Some abstracts:

http://www.cosis.net/abstracts/EGU20...pdf?PHPSESSID=

http://www.agu.org/cgi-bin/wais?dd=P13C-02

http://www.agu.org/cgi-bin/wais?jj=P14B-04

http://www.cosis.net/abstracts/EGU20...07-J-04682.pdf

http://www.agu.org/cgi-bin/wais?jj=P14B-02

http://www.agu.org/cgi-bin/wais?jj=P11B-0544

http://www.agu.org/cgi-bin/wais?jj=P14B-03

http://www.agu.org/cgi-bin/wais?jj=P11B-0545

Using Google scholar you can find many more.

Jon

Thanks for the links - I'll have a read

However - I guess what i'm getting at is although there are undoubtedly results in scientific papers (as the links to abstracts demonstrate) - most people dont have access to the full papers/journals that these abstracts relate too.

Neither NASA or ESA seem to be posting much in the way of the discoveries that these instruments are making into the public domain (i.e. on their websites).

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ESA is like that, and SHARAD is technically, a European interloper on board MRO.

ESA is not "like that", the results from Mars Express are published as regularly and as quickly as those from any US mission.

For reasons I have already stated, processing and interpreting subsurface radar data takes a long time.

"Interloper" implies that SHARAD has no business on MRO. Why do you say this?

Jon

We've been down this road before - several years ago. I'm not having that debate again. It's improving, but only in some areas and a long way still to go. Clearly there is a problem when a thread like this has cause to exist.

Interloper is perhaps the wrong word - MARSIS and SHARAD are both European lead instruments - so SHARAD doesn't fit in the same mould as the other, US based instruments onboard MRO w.r.t. results, publishing and outreach. Guest, foreigner, odd one out, oddball - it's 'different'. You're clearly trying to read too much into what I wrote.

Reversing your points for convenience...

Most space probes, regardless of the flag they are carrying, are multi-national. SHARAD is no more an interloper than the Canadian Lidar is on Phoenix, or SIR-2 and M3 are on Chandrayaan.

There does not have to be problem for untruths to persist. The Apollo Hoax believers and Richard Hoagland are evidence for that. They persist because people refuse to listen to the truth or have their own agendas for pushing falsehoods.

There is no truth whatsoever in the misconception held by a few people that ESA is slow in publishing results. And I will keep pointing this out until this falsehood wherever I see it until it is consigned to the rubbish bin where it belongs.

To illustrate, an hour or so on Google scholar identified at least 75 primary, peer reviewed papers on the results of Mars Express published in the past four years. I make no claim that this is exhaustive. Judging by the number of conference abstracts there are probably twice as many papers due to come out in the next few years. And the mission is still ongoing. In the face of these facts the belief by some that ESA is somehow slow in publishing results is risible, ignorant, untrue, and downright slanderous on the integrity of the organisations and the scientists involved.

I am sorry to be so blunt, Doug, but this really gets my goat.

Jon

Here is the list.

2008 13 PAPERS

Investigation of water vapor on Mars with PFS/SW of Mars Express. Icarus Volume 195, Issue 2, June 2008, Pages 557-575 doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2008.01.018

Observation of the hydrogen corona with SPICAM on Mars Express. Icarus Volume 195, Issue 2, June 2008, Pages 598-613 doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2008.01.009

ENA detection in the dayside of Mars: ASPERA-3 NPD statistical study. Planetary and Space Science Volume 56, Issue 6, May 2008, Pages 840-845 doi:10.1016/j.pss.2007.12.013

An overview of radar soundings of the martian ionosphere from the Mars Express spacecraft. Advances in Space Research Volume 41, Issue 9, 2008, Pages 1335-1346 doi:10.1016/j.asr.2007.01.062

Dust haze in Valles Marineris observed by HRSC and OMEGA on board Mars Express. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 113, E02004, doi:10.1029/2007JE002893, 2008

Topography of valley networks on Mars from Mars Express High Resolution Stereo Camera digital elevation models. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 113, E07006, doi:10.1029/2007JE002986, 2008

Observations of aurorae by SPICAM ultraviolet spectrograph on board Mars Express: Simultaneous ASPERA-3 and MARSIS measurements. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 113, A08311, doi:10.1029/2008JA013033, 2008

Variation of the Martian ionospheric electron density from Mars Express radar soundings. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 113, A09303, doi:10.1029/2008JA013313, 2008

Distribution of the ultraviolet nitric oxide Martian night airglow: Observations from Mars Express and comparisons with a one-dimensional model. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 113, E08012, doi:10.1029/2007JE003037, 2008

A study of the Martian water vapor over Hellas using OMEGA and PFS aboard Mars Express. Astronomy &Astrophysics 484, 547-553 (2008) DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20079288

Accurate Mars Express orbits to improve the determination of the mass and ephemeris of the Martian moons. Planetary and Space Science Volume 56, Issue 7, May 2008, Pages 1043-1053 doi:10.1016/j.pss.2008.02.004

New astrometric observations of Phobos with the SRC on Mars Express. Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 488, Issue 1, 2008, pp.361-364 doi: 10.1051/0004-6361:200809787

ENA detection in the dayside of Mars: ASPERA-3 NPD statistical study. Planetary and Space Science Volume 56, Issue 6, May 2008, Pages 840-845 doi:10.1016/j.pss.2007.12.013

2007 21 PAPERS

Subsurface Radar Sounding of the South Polar Layered Deposits of Mars. Science 6 April 2007: Vol. 316. no. 5821, pp. 92 - 95 DOI: 10.1126/science.1139672

South Pole of Mars: Nature and composition of the icy terrains from Mars Express OMEGA observations. Planetary and Space Science Volume 55, Issues 1-2, January 2007, Pages 113-133.

Mineralogy of the Nili Fossae region with OMEGA/Mars Express data: 2. Aqueous alteration of the crust. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, E08S04, doi:10.1029/2006JE002835, 2007

Mineralogy of the Nili Fossae region with OMEGA/Mars Express data: Ancient impact melt in the Isidis Basin and implications for the transition from the Noachian to Hesperian. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, E08S03, doi:10.1029/2006JE002834, 2007

Hydration state of the Martian surface as seen by Mars Express OMEGA: 1. Analysis of the 3 mm hydration feature. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, E08S06, doi:10.1029/2006JE002846, 2007

Martian surface mineralogy from Observatoire pour la Mine´ralogie, l’Eau, les Glaces et l’Activite´ on board the Mars Express spacecraft (OMEGA/MEx): Global mineral maps JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, E08S02, doi:10.1029/2006JE002840, 2007

Observations of the south seasonal cap of Mars during recession in 2004–2006 by the OMEGA visible/near-infrared imaging spectrometer on board Mars Express. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, E08S12, doi:10.1029/2006JE002841, 2007

Mars Express High Resolution Stereo Camera spectrophotometric data: Characteristics and science analysis. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, E06004, doi:10.1029/2006JE002769, 2007

On the properties of O+ and O2+ ions in a hybrid model and in Mars Express IMA/ASPERA-3 data: A case study. Planetary and Space Science Volume 56, Issue 9, July 2008, Pages 1204-1213 doi:10.1016/j.pss.2008.03.007

Martian Atmospheric Erosion Rates. Science 26 January 2007 Vol. 315. no. 5811, pp. 501 - 503 DOI: 10.1126/science.1134358

Mars Express High Resolution Stereo Camera spectrophotometric data: Characteristics and science analysis. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, E06004, doi:10.1029/2006JE002769, 2007

Olympus Mons, Mars: Inferred changes in late Amazonian aged effusive activity from lava flow mapping of Mars Express High Resolution Stereo Camera data. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, E04003, doi:10.1029/2006JE002826, 2007

First numerical ephemerides of the Martian moons. Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 465, Issue 3, April III 2007, pp.1075-1084 doi: 10.1051/0004-6361:20065466

Phyllosilicates in the Mawrth Vallis region of Mars. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, E08S08, doi:10.1029/2006JE002877, 2007

On the origin of gypsum in the Mars north polar region. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, E07002, doi:10.1029/2006JE002862, 2007

Martian ice cloud distribution obtained from SPICAM nadir UV measurements. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, E07004, doi:10.1029/2006JE002827, 2007

Young lava flows on the eastern flank of Ascraeus Mons: Rheological properties derived from High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) images and Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) data. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, E05011, doi:10.1029/2006JE002717, 2007

On Martian nitrogen dayglow emission observed by SPICAM UV spectrograph/Mars Express. GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 34, L02206, doi:10.1029/2006GL028437, 2007

Remote sensing of surface pressure on Mars with the Mars Express/OMEGA spectrometer: 1. Retrieval method. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, E08S15, doi:10.1029/2006JE002871, 2007

Remote sensing of surface pressure on Mars with the Mars Express/OMEGA spectrometer: 2. Meteorological maps. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, E08S16, doi:10.1029/2006JE002870, 2007

Hydration state of the Martian surface as seen by Mars Express OMEGA: 2. H2O content of the surface JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, E08S07, doi:10.1029/2006JE002853, 2007

2006 22 PAPERS

The Analyzer of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA-3) for the Mars Express Mission. Space Science Reviews Volume 126, Numbers 1-4 / October, 2006

IMF Direction Derived from Cycloid-Like Ion Distributions Observed by Mars Express. Space Science Reviews Volume 126, Numbers 1-4 / October, 2006 DOI 10.1007/s11214-006-9090-1 239-266

Emissivity measurements of analogue materials for the interpretation of data from PFS on Mars Express and MERTIS on Bepi-Colombo. Planetary and Space Science Volume 54, Issue 11, September 2006, Pages 1057-1064

A simulation of the OMEGA/Mars Express observations: Analysis of the atmospheric contribution. Planetary and Space Science Volume 54, Issue 8, August 2006, Pages 774-783

OMEGA/Mars Express: Visual channel performances and data reduction techniques. Planetary and Space Science Volume 54, Issue 7, July 2006, Pages 675-684

ASPERA-3 on Mars Express. Icarus Volume 182, Issue 2, June 2006, Pages 301-307

Mass composition of the escaping plasma at Mars. Icarus Volume 182, Issue 2, June 2006, Pages 320-328

Ion escape at Mars: Comparison of a 3-D hybrid simulation with Mars Express IMA/ASPERA-3 measurements. Icarus Volume 182, Issue 2, June 2006, Pages 350-359

Carbon dioxide photoelectron energy peaks at Mars. Icarus Volume 182, Issue 2, June 2006, Pages 371-382

Observations of magnetic anomaly signatures in Mars Express ASPERA-3 ELS data. Icarus Volume 182, Issue 2, June 2006, Pages 396-405

First ENA observations at Mars: Solar-wind ENAs on the nightside. Icarus Volume 182, Issue 2, June 2006, Pages 439-447

Plasma Acceleration Above Martian Magnetic Anomalies. Science 17 February 2006: Vol. 311. no. 5763, pp. 980 - 983 DOI: 10.1126/science.1122071

Formation of Glaciers on Mars by Atmospheric Precipitation at High Obliquity. Science 20 January 2006: Vol. 311. no. 5759, pp. 368 - 371 DOI: 10.1126/science.1120335

Stellar occultations observed by SPICAM on Mars Express. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 111, E09S04, doi:10.1029/2005JE002604, 2006

A structural study of an interior layered deposit in southwestern Candor Chasma, Valles Marineris, Mars, using high resolution stereo camera data from Mars Express. GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 33, L07202, doi:10.1029/2005GL025035, 2006

Orientation and distribution of recent gullies in the southern hemisphere of Mars: Observations from High Resolution Stereo Camera/Mars Express HRSC/MEX) and Mars Orbiter Camera/Mars Global Surveyor (MOC/MGS) data. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 111, E05001, doi:10.1029/2005JE002607, 2006

Origins of the Martian aurora observed by Spectroscopy for Investigation of Characteristics of the Atmosphere of Mars (SPICAM) on board Mars Express. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 111, A09313, doi:10.1029/2006JA011763, 2006

Martian dayglow as seen by the SPICAM UV spectrograph on Mars Express. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 111, E09S11, doi:10.1029/2005JE002664, 2006

Observation of O2 1.27 μm dayglow by SPICAM IR: Seasonal distribution for the first Martian year of Mars Express. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 111, E09S07, doi:10.1029/2006JE002694, 2006

SPICAM IR acousto-optic spectrometer experiment on Mars Express. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 111, E09S03, doi:10.1029/2006JE002696, 2006

Vertical distribution of ozone on Mars as measured by SPICAM/Mars Express using stellar occultations. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 111, E09S05, doi:10.1029/2005JE002643, 2006

Astrometric observations of Phobos and Deimos with the SRC on Mars Express. Astronomy and Astrophysics 447, 1145-1151 (2006) DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20053929

2005 16 PAPERS

Radar Soundings of the Subsurface of Mars. Science 23 December 2005: Vol. 310. no. 5756, pp. 1925 - 1928 DOI: 10.1126/science.1122165

A Sporadic Third Layer in the Ionosphere of Mars. Science 4 November 2005: Vol. 310. no. 5749, pp. 837 - 839 DOI: 10.1126/science.1117755

Radar Soundings of the Ionosphere of Mars. Science 23 December 2005: Vol. 310. no. 5756, pp. 1929 - 1933 DOI: 10.1126/science.1121868

PFS-MEX observation of ices in the residual south polar cap of Mars. Planetary and Space Science Volume 53, Issue 10, August 2005, Pages 1089-1095

Analysis of CO2 non-LTE emissions at in the Martian atmosphere as observed by PFS/Mars Express and SWS/ISO. Planetary and Space Science Volume 53, Issue 10, August 2005, Pages 1079-1087

Discovery of an aurora on Mars. 1: Nature. 2005 Jun 9;435(7043):790-4.

Summer Evolution of the North Polar Cap of Mars as Observed by OMEGA/Mars Express. Science 11 March 2005: Vol. 307. no. 5715, pp. 1581 - 1584 DOI: 10.1126/science.1109438

Spectral Reflectance and Morphologic Correlations in Eastern Terra Meridiani, Mars. Science 11 March 2005: Vol. 307. no. 5715, pp. 1591 - 1594 DOI: 10.1126/science.1109509

Morphology and geological structure of the western part of the Olympus Mons volcano on Mars from the analysis of the Mars Express HRSC imagery Solar System Research Volume 39, Number 2 / March, 2005, Pages 85-101 DOI 10.1007/s11208-005-0025-2

Tropical to mid-latitude snow and ice accumulation, flow and glaciation on Mars. NATURE | VOL 434 | 17 MARCH 2005, p 346-351.

Nightglow in the Upper Atmosphere of Mars and Implications for Atmospheric Transport. Science 28 January 2005: Vol. 307. no. 5709, pp. 566 - 569 DOI: 10.1126/science.1106957

Interior channels in Martian valleys: Constraints on fluvial erosion by measurements of the Mars Express High Resolution Stereo Camera. GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 32, L16203, doi:10.1029/2005GL023415, 2005

Erosion by flowing Martian lava: New insights for Hecates Tholus from Mars Express and MER data. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 110, E05006, doi:10.1029/2004JE002377, 2005

Limits on the burial depth of glacial ice deposits on the flanks of Hecates Tholus, Mars. GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 32, L17201, doi:10.1029/2005GL023712, 2005

A mapping of martian water sublimation during early northern summer using OMEGA/Mars Express. Astronomy & Astrophysics 441, L9-L12 (2005) DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:200500171

Fluid lava flows in Gusev crater, Mars. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 110, E05008, doi:10.1029/2005JE002401, 2005

2004 3 PAPERS

Detection of Methane in the Atmosphere of Mars. Science 3 December 2004: Vol. 306. no. 5702, pp. 1758 - 1761

Solar Wind-Induced Atmospheric Erosion at Mars: First Results from ASPERA-3 on Mars Express. Science 24 September 2004: Vol. 305. no. 5692, pp. 1933 - 1936 DOI: 10.1126/science.1101860

Evolution of the Martian atmosphere and hydrosphere: Solar wind erosion studied by ASPERA-3 on Mars Express. Planetary and Space Science Volume 52, Issue 11, September 2004, Pages 1059-1071 doi:10.1016/j.pss.2004.07.020

Total hits on Google Scholar on the following exact phrase in the period 2004-2008 in discplines of physics, astronomy, and planetary science:

Mars Express 1830

Mars Exploration Rover 563

Spirit Rover 218

Opportunity Rover 228

Playing devils advocate a little here - but djellisons comment that you quoted was in response to what I said about the MARSIS and SHARAD results not being publicised through the general media as much results from other missions/instruments (the third post in this thread). I doubt he/she meant to imply that ESA arent producing results full stop. Full scientific papers are not really accessible to the general public and it would be nice to have seen more discoveries publicised on the ESA/NASA websites. Perhaps more announcements will come in time because the data processing is lengthy - i'm just impatient I guess

ESA certainly are producing plenty of scientific papers as your list demonstrates - I dont think anyone would deny that. I hadnt heard of google scholar before this thread - i'll certainly be taking a look at it.

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Err, I know. I know that very very very well - indeed, I just spent several days of my own time, freely, doing animations for such an instrument ( C1XS on Chandrayaan 1 ) in an effort to raise awareness for exactly those sorts of colabs, and most specifically, Europe's space science activities.

I am not saying ESA isn't publishing science papers (despite you inferring that I am ). It is. Your extensive rant is misplaced I was responding to this:

" There have been a few images showing sub surface features and thats about it."
and
"Neither NASA or ESA seem to be posting much in the way of the discoveries that these instruments are making into the public domain (i.e. on their websites)."

Go to the ESA website. He's right. And that's wrong. Plenty of science papers - but 4/5ths of exactly zip science outreach. Note that it is an engineering camera that has started a rapid-release policy in the mould of MER/Cassini/NH - the MEX VMC- not a science instrument.

No website better details the difference between USA and ESA than this

http://pds-smallbodies.astro.umd.edu...tta/index.html

One instrument, a US instrument, has delivered everything. The others, European instruments, have delivered nothing.

This is the harsh reality - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...25d3f44d93a7be

There IS a difference between ESA and NASA - and it's counterproductive to deny it.

So you have even less reason to use the word "interloper' for a European instrument on US-launched mission.

Are are saying that they are not releaseing data to the public. That is false. They are, in a way that is different to NASA. That iss not a crime, just a different way of doing business.

Pointing out your errors is a "rant"? So be it.

And if you knew anything about the processing of such data you would know that it takes a long time to produce the results. Have you ever seen raw GPR data? have you seen raw MARSIS data? I have seen both and have a student working on the MARSIS data from the Phobos flyby. When the data is processed it will be available.

Wrong? By what standard? Yours? ESA are meeting their legal obligations, which don't include meeting your wishes.

Your thinly disguised obscenity is noted.

So what?

Are you saying that only one instrument, the US one, has delivered results? Based on the absence of links on a web site?

If so, you are wrong. Some examples found by a few minutes searching. the results are preliminary of course, but the mission is in its early stages.

http://dipastro.pd.astro.it/planets/...st-results.pdf

http://www.springerlink.com/content/c33ku02742846832/

http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005DPS....37.1804C


ESA does not have a public education role. Yhey don't get the funding for it. Yopu can't fault them for not doing what they are not supposed to do. Maybe this studies will encourage them top do more. But whether not a bunch of kids are aware of what ESA has done has absoluetely no bearing on the scientific worth of what ESA does.


They are different organisations operating under different conditions with different goals. that does not make one better than the other, only different. Or you you expect every space agency to be a NASA clone?

Jon

Google scholar is very useful.

As I said, you have not seen much of the sub surface results because the subsurface results take a lot of work to produce images interpretable by the general public.

Scientific papers are publically available, at university libaries (which are generally open to the public) and other institutions. or, if you are really keen, you can pay yourself (although most are expensive).

Jon

I'm not going to have this argument with you, again, Jon. You clearly have an opinion on what ESA should be doing. I have mine. They are very different.

I will leave with these three points

1) There IS a problem. Our kids don't know ESA exists. The public don't know what ESA is doing. Our politicians don't see what ESA is for. Yet all three parties are, or will be paying for ESA with their taxes. Fortunately, an increasing number of ESA scientists I have spoken to see the problem and agree that it needs to change. They speak of ESA outreach in the same words I do. They recognise the problem, but lack the resources to resolve it.

2) I am taking time off work to go to science conferences to make presentations to, and liase with European scientists regarding outreach (see my TPS Blog entires, and two papers with Europlanet). They are seeing the benefits of various outreach efforts from across the pond and are trying to get the money together to achieve similar goals

3) There is no centralised or contractual responsibility for data disemintation or public outreach within Europlean planetary science. This is the root cause of why the situation has arisen in the way that it has, and it is this that must change.

I will continue to complain about, fight for improvements of, and campaign for funding to help European planetary science outreach until it improves.

Not sure about that - I spent quite a few years in academia whilst doing my degree + several years of research, but I dont believe the general public were admitted to the libraries (but I may be wrong). The other issue is finding a university library that carries the relevent journals.

Subscribing to the journals yourself is an option I guess (and as you point out - an expensive one) - but I doubt many people would go down this route unless they were heavily involved in research in that area. Most people that are that heavily involved will be in research organisations or academia and so will have access anyway.

For the general public with a casual interest - I guess the only practical option is to wait.

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A question from a geology outsider... why don't the geophysical sciences have an Arxiv type pre-print server or why don't they use the existing one? Even NASA ADS lists most MARSIS papers as just a link to the abstract only. My university library doesn't have many geology journals available so I find it difficult to get hold of stuff like the MARSIS results. A preprint server would seem to be a simple solution.

Rules doubtless vary from place to place. In the city I live in all the university libraries can be visited by the public, even if they can't borrow from them. The national geoscience agency has a library that is open to the public, including both print and electronic copies of most leading geoscience and general science journals. Then there is the state libarary, which likewise has most leading science journals, all available for free. Plus there are friends you can call upon to get copies.

Jon