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Martian polar ice caps
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North polar cap in 1999
South polar cap in 2000
The planet Mars has two permanent polar ice caps. During a pole's winter, it lies in continuous darkness, chilling the surface and causing the deposition of 25–30% of the atmosphere into slabs of CO2 ice (dry ice).[1] When the poles are again exposed to sunlight, the frozen CO2 sublimes, creating enormous winds that sweep off the poles as fast as 400 km/h.[2] These seasonal actions transport large amounts of dust and water vapor, giving rise to Earth-like frost and large cirrus clouds. Clouds of water-ice were photographed by the Opportunity rover in 2004.[3]
The caps at both poles consist primarily of water ice. Frozen carbon dioxide accumulates as a comparatively thin layer about one metre thick on the north cap in the northern winter only, while the south cap has a permanent dry ice cover about 8 m thick.[4] The northern polar cap has a diameter of about 1000 km during the northern Mars summer,[5] and contains about 1.6 million cubic km of ice, which if spread evenly on the cap would be 2 km thick.[6] (This compares to a volume of 2.85 million cubic km (km3) for the Greenland ice sheet.) The southern polar cap has a diameter of 350 km and a thickness of 3 km.[7] The total volume of ice in the south polar cap plus the adjacent layered deposits has also been estimated at 1.6 million cubic km.[8] Both polar caps show spiral troughs, which recent analysis of SHARAD ice penetrating radar has shown are a result of roughly perpendicular katabatic winds that spiral due to the Coriolis Effect.[9][10]
The seasonal frosting of some areas near the southern ice cap results in the formation of transparent 1 m thick slabs of dry ice above the ground. With the arrival of spring, sunlight warms the subsurface and pressure from subliming CO2 builds up under a slab, elevating and ultimately rupturing it. This leads to geyser-like eruptions of CO2 gas mixed with dark basaltic sand or dust. This process is rapid, observed happening in the space of a few days, weeks or months, a rate of change rather unusual in geology—especially for Mars. The gas rushing underneath a slab to the site of a geyser carves a spider-like pattern of radial channels under the ice.[11][12][13][14]
Contents
[hide]
1 Freezing of atmosphere
2 Layers
3 North polar cap
4 South polar cap
4.1 Swiss cheese appearance
4.2 Starburst channels or spiders
4.3 Layers
5 Polar ice cap deuterium enrichment
6 Gallery
7 See also
8 External links
9 References
Freezing of atmosphere[edit]
Research based on slight changes in the orbits of spacecraft around Mars over 16 years found that when one hemisphere experiences winter, approximately 3 trillion to 4 trillion tons of carbon dioxide freezes out of the atmosphere onto the northern and southern polar caps. This represents 12 to 16 percent of the mass of the entire Martian atmosphere. These observations support predictions from the Mars Global Reference Atmospheric Model—2010.[15][16]
Layers[edit]
Both polar caps show layered features, called polar-layered deposits, that result from seasonal melting and deposition of ice together with dust from Martian dust storms. Information about the past climate of Mars may be eventually revealed in these layers, just as tree ring patterns and ice core data do on Earth. Both polar caps also display grooved features, probably caused by wind flow patterns. The grooves are also influenced by the amount of dust.[17] The more dust, the darker the surface. The darker the surface, the more melting. Dark surfaces absorb more light energy. There are other theories that attempt to explain the large grooves.[18]
Layers in northern ice cap, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program
Layers exposed.
Close view of layers exposed.
Layers visible along edge of northern ice cap.
North polar cap[edit]
The bulk of the northern ice cap consists of water ice; it also has a thin seasonal veneer of dry ice, solid carbon dioxide. Each winter the ice cap grows by adding 1.5 to 2 m of dry ice. In summer, the dry ice sublimates (goes directly from a solid to a gas) into the atmosphere. Mars has seasons that are similar to Earth's, because its rotational axis has a tilt close to our own Earth's (25.19° for Mars, 23.44° for Earth).
During each year on Mars as much as a third of Mars' thin carbon dioxide (CO2) atmosphere "freezes out" during the winter in the northern and southern hemispheres. Scientists have even measured tiny changes in the gravity field of Mars due to the movement of carbon dioxide.[19]
The ice cap in the north is of a lower altitude (base at -5000 m, top at -2000 m) than the one in the south (base at 1000 m, top at 3500 m).[20][21] It is also warmer, so all the frozen carbon dioxide disappears each summer.[22] The part of the cap that survives the summer is called the north residual cap and is made of water ice. This water ice is believed to be as much as three kilometers thick. The much thinner seasonal cap starts to form in the late summer to early fall when a variety of clouds form. Called the polar hood, the clouds drop precipitation which thickens the cap. The north polar cap is symmetrical around the pole and covers the surface down to about 60 degrees latitude. High resolution images taken with NASA's Mars Global Surveyor show that the northern polar cap is covered mainly by pits, cracks, small bumps and knobs that give it a cottage cheese look. The pits are spaced close together relative to the very different depressions in the south polar cap.
Both polar caps show layered features that result from seasonal melting and deposition of ice together with dust from Martian dust storms. These polar layered deposits lie under the permanent polar caps. Information about the past climate of Mars may be eventually revealed in these layers, just as tree ring patterns and ice core data do on Earth. Both polar caps also display grooved features, probably caused by wind flow patterns and sun angles, although there are several theories that have been advanced. The grooves are also influenced by the amount of dust.[17] The more dust, the darker the surface. The darker the surface, the more melting. Dark surfaces absorb more light energy. One large valley, Chasma Boreale runs halfway across the cap. It is about 100 km wide and up to 2 km deep—that's deeper than Earth's Grand Canyon.[23]
When the tilt or obliquity changes the size of the polar caps change. When the tilt is at its highest, the poles receive far more sunlight and for more hours each day. The extra sunlight causes the ice to melt, so much so that it could cover parts of the surface in 10 m of ice. Much evidence has been found for glaciers that probably formed when this tilt-induced climate change occurred.[24]
Research reported in September 2009 and published in Icarus shows that the ice rich layers of the ice cap match models for Martian climate swings. NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's radar instrument can measure the contrast in electrical properties between layers. The pattern of reflectivity reveals the pattern of material variations within the layers. Radar produced a cross-sectional view of the north-polar layered deposits of Mars. High-reflectivity zones, with multiple contrasting layers, alternate with zones of lower reflectivity. Patterns of how these two types of zones alternate can be correlated to models of changes in the tilt of Mars. Since the top zone of the north-polar layered deposits—the most recently deposited portion—is strongly radar-reflective, the researchers propose that such sections of high-contrast layering correspond to periods of relatively small swings in the planet's tilt because the Martian axis has not varied much recently. Dustier layers appear to be deposited during periods when the atmosphere is dustier.[25][26]
Research, published in January 2010 using HiRISE images, says that understanding the layers is more complicated than was formerly believed. The brightness of the layers does not just depend on the amount of dust. The angle of the sun together with the angle of the spacecraft greatly affect the brightness seen by the camera. This angle depends on factors such as the shape of the trough wall and its orientation. Furthermore, the roughness of the surface can greatly change the albedo (amount of reflected light). In addition, many times what one is seeing is not a real layer, but a fresh covering of frost. All of these factors are influenced by the wind which can erode surfaces. The HiRISE camera did not reveal layers that were thinner than those seen by the Mars Global Surveyor. However, it did see more detail within layers.[27]
Radar measurements of the north polar ice cap found the volume of water ice in the layered deposits of the cap was 821,000 cubic kilometers (197,000 cubic miles). That's equal to 30% of the Earth's Greenland ice sheet. (The layered deposits overlie an additional basal deposit of ice.) The radar is on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.[25]
SHARAD radar data when combined to form a 3D model reveal buried craters. These may be used to date certain layers.[26]
In February 2017, ESA released a new view of Mars's North Pole. It was a mosaic made from 32 individual orbits of the Mars Express.[28][29]
South polar cap[edit]
The south polar permanent cap is much smaller than the one in the north. It is 400 km in diameter, as compared to the 1100 km diameter of the northern cap.[18] Each southern winter, the ice cap covers the surface to a latitude of 50°.[30] Part of the ice cap consists of dry ice, solid carbon dioxide. Each winter the ice cap grows by adding 1.5 to 2 meters of dry ice from precipitation from a polar-hood of clouds. In summer, the dry ice sublimates (goes directly from a solid to a gas) into the atmosphere. During each year on Mars as much as a third of Mars' thin carbon dioxide (CO2) atmosphere "freezes out" during the winter in the northern and southern hemispheres. Scientists have even measured tiny changes in the gravity field of Mars due to the movement of carbon dioxide. In other words, the winter buildup of ice changes the gravity of the planet.[31] Mars has seasons that are similar to Earth's because its rotational axis has a tilt close to our own Earth's (25.19° for Mars, 23.45° for Earth). The south polar cap is higher in altitude and colder than the one in the north.[22]
The residual southern ice cap is misplaced. That is, it is not centered on the south pole. However, the south seasonal cap is centered near the geographic pole.[18] Studies have shown that the off center cap is caused by much more snow falling on one side than the other. On the western hemisphere side of the south pole a low pressure system forms because the winds are changed by the Hellas Basin. This system produces more snow. On the other side, there is less snow and more frost. Snow tends to reflect more sunlight in the summer, so not much melts or sublimates (Mars climate causes snow to go directly from a solid to a gas). Frost, on the other hand has a rougher surface and tends to trap more sunlight, resulting in more sublimation. In other words, areas with more of the rougher frost are warmer.[32]
Research, published in April 2011, described a large deposit of frozen carbon dioxide near the south pole. Most of this deposit probably enters Mars' atmosphere when the planet's tilt increases. When this occurs, the atmosphere thickens, winds get stronger, and larger areas on the surface can support liquid water. [33] Analysis of data showed that if these deposits were all changed into gas, the atmospheric pressure on Mars would double.[34] There are three layers of these deposits; each is capped with a 30-meter layer of water ice that prevents the CO2 from sublimating into the atmosphere. In sublimation a solid material goes directly into a gas phase. These three layers are linked to periods when the atmosphere collapsed when the climate changed.[35]
A large field of eskers exist around the south pole, called the Dorsa Argentea Formation, it is believed to be the remains of a giant ice sheet.[36] This large polar ice sheet is believed to have covered about 1.5 million square kilometers. That area is twice the area of the state of Texas.[37] [38]
Main article: Dorsa Argentea Formation
Swiss cheese appearance[edit]
Main article: Swiss cheese features
While the north polar cap of Mars has a flat, pitted surface resembling cottage cheese, the south polar cap has larger pits, troughs and flat mesas that give it a Swiss cheese appearance.[39][40][41][42] The upper layer of the Martian south polar residual cap has been eroded into flat-topped mesas with circular depressions.[43] Observations made by Mars Orbiter Camera in 2001 have shown that the scarps and pit walls of the south polar cap had retreated at an average rate of about 3 meters (10 feet) since 1999. In other words, they were retreating 3 meters per Mars year. In some places on the cap, the scarps retreat less than 3 meters a Mars year, and in others it can retreat as much as 8 meters (26 feet) per Martian year. Over time, south polar pits merge to become plains, mesas turn into buttes, and buttes vanish forever. Between 2001 and 2005, two additional Mars years elapsed. The round shape is probably aided in its formation by the angle of the sun. In the summer, the sun moves around the sky, sometimes for 24 hours each day, just above the horizon. As a result, the walls of a round depression will receive more intense sunlight than the floor; the wall will melt far more than the floor. The walls melt and recede, while the floor remains the same.[44][45]
Later research with the powerful HiRISE shat that the pits are in a 1-10 meter thick layer of dry ice that is sitting on a much larger water ide cap. Pits have been observed to begin with small areas along faint fractures. The circular pits have steep walls that work to focus sunlight, thereby increasing erosion. For a pit to develop a steep wall of about 10 cm and a length of over 5 meters in necessary.[46]
The pictures below show why it is said the surface resembles Swiss cheese; one can also observe the differences over a two-year period.
Changes in south polar surface from 1999 to 2001, as seen by Mars Global Surveyor.
'Swiss cheese' ice formations as seen by MGS.
Swiss cheese-like ice formations as seen by MGS, showing layers.
Close-up of Swiss cheese terrain, as seen by MGS.
HiRISE view of south polar terrain.
Starburst channels or spiders[edit]
Main article: Geyser (Mars)
Starburst channels are patterns of channels that radiate out into feathery extensions. They are caused by gas which escapes along with dust. The gas builds up beneath translucent ice as the temperature warms in the spring.[47] Typically 500 meters wide and 1 meter deep, the spiders may undergo observable changes in just a few days.[48] One model for understanding the formation of the spiders says that sunlight heats dust grains in the ice. The warm dust grains settle by melting through the ice while the holes are annealed behind them. As a result, the ice becomes fairly clear. Sunlight then reaches the dark bottom of the slab of ice and changes the solid carbon dioxide ice into a gas which flows toward higher regions that open to the surface. The gas rushes out carrying dark dust with it. Winds at the surface will blow the escaping gas and dust into dark fans that we observe with orbiting spacecraft.[24][49] The physics of this model is similar to ideas put forth to explain dark plumes erupting from the surface of Triton.[50]
Research, published in January 2010 using HiRISE images, found that some of the channels in spiders grow larger as they go uphill since gas is doing the erosion. The researchers also found that the gas flows to a crack that has occurred at a weak point in the ice. As soon as the sun rises above the horizon, gas from the spiders blows out dust which is blown by wind to form a dark fan shape. Some of the dust gets trapped in the channels. Eventually frost covers all the fans and channels until the next spring when the cycle repeats.[30][51]
Star burst channels caused by escaping CO2 gas, as seen by HiRISE. Such channels, also called spiders, may be about 500 m in diameter and 1 m deep.
Spider on the second Martian day of spring, as seen by HiRISE.
Same spider 14 Martian days later, as seen by HiRISE. Notice increased dark fans caused by outgassing of carbon dioxide carrying dark material.
Wide view of plumes, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program Many of the plumes show spiders when enlarged.
Spiders, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program
Plumes and spiders, as seen by HiRISE under HiWish program
Layers[edit]
Chasma Australe, a major valley, cuts across the layered deposits in the South Polar cap. On the 90 E side, the deposits rest on a major basin, called Prometheus.[52]
Some of the layers in the south pole also show polygonal fracturing in the form of rectangles. It is thought that the fractures were caused by the expansion and contraction of water ice below the surface.[53]
Polar ice cap deuterium enrichment[edit]
Evidence that Mars once had enough water to create a global ocean at least 137 m deep has been obtained from measurement of the HDO to H2O ratio over the north polar cap. In March 2015, a team of scientists published results showing that the polar cap ice is about eight times as enriched with deuterium, heavy hydrogen, as water in Earth's oceans. This means that Mars has lost a volume of water 6.5 times as large as that stored in today's polar caps. The water for a time may have formed an ocean in the low-lying Vastitas Borealis and adjacent lowlands (Acidalia, Arcadia and Utopia planitiae). Had the water ever all been liquid and on the surface, it would have covered 20% of the planet and in places would have been almost a mile deep.
This international team used ESO’s Very Large Telescope, along with instruments at the W. M. Keck Observatory and the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, to map out different isotopic forms of water in Mars’s atmosphere over a six-year period.[54][55]
Gallery[edit]
Ice cap images
This HiRISE image shows layers running roughly up and down, with faint polygonal fracturing (mostly rectangular).
South polar layers, as seen by THEMIS.
Close-up of layers in wall of McMurdo crater, as seen by HiRISE.
Layers exposed in a valley on the north polar ice cap as observed by Mars Odyssey. Click on image to enlarge to see clouds of dust caused by winds coming off the cap.
Chasma Boreale streamlined feature, as seen by HiRISE.
Chasma Boreale, as seen by HiRISE.
Steep scarp, as seen by HiRISE.
North polar layers on the side of a valley, as seen by HiRISE. Layers erode differently, depending on what direction they face. On one side they are straight, as if cut by a knife.
Chasma Boreale channels, as seen by HiRISE.
See also[edit]
Carbon dioxide
Climate of Mars
Dorsa Argentea Formation
Geyser (Mars)
Mare Australe quadrangle
Swiss cheese features
Phoenix (spacecraft)
SHARAD
Sublimation
External links[edit]
http://seg.org/podcast/Post/4604/Episode-10-Remote-sensing-on-Mars Podcast describing the use of SHARAD radar data to explore the ice caps
https://sharad.psi.edu/~than/SHARAD/3D/movies/SHARAD_PB3D_depth_20161223.mp4 High-resolution movie showing the interior of the north polar ice cap in 3D, as determined with SHARAD radar data
https://sharad.psi.edu/~than/SHARAD/3D/movies/SHARAD_PA3D_depth_20170105.mp4 High-resolution movie showing the interior of the south polar ice cap in 3D, as determined with SHARAD radar data
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Elena Gilbert
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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For the book series character, see Elena Gilbert (novel character).
Elena Gilbert
The Vampire Diaries character
First appearance
"Pilot"
Last appearance
"I Was Feeling Epic"
Created by
L. J. Smith (book series)
Julie Plec
Kevin Williamson (television series)
Portrayed by
Nina Dobrev
Kayla Madison (Young Elena)
Information
Aliases
Elena Salvatore (marriage name, season 8)
Species
Human (seasons 1–3, 6-8)
Doppelgänger (seasons 1–8)
Vampire (seasons 4–6)
Gender
Female
Occupation
High school student (formerly)
College student (formerly)
Family
Grayson Gilbert (adoptive father/paternal uncle)
Miranda Gilbert (adoptive mother/paternal aunt)
John Gilbert (biological father/adoptive paternal uncle)
Isobel Flemming (biological mother)
Jeremy Gilbert (adoptive brother/paternal cousin)
Jenna Sommers (adoptive aunt)
Damon Salvatore (husband)
Alaric Saltzman (stepfather)
Stefan Salvatore (brother-in-law)
Significant other(s)
Matt Donovan (ex-boyfriend)
Stefan Salvatore (ex-boyfriend)
Damon Salvatore (husband)
Relatives
Amara (maternal ancestor; doppelgänger of)
Tatia (maternal ancestor; doppelgänger of)
Katherine Pierce/Katerina Petrova (maternal ancestor; doppelgänger of)
Nadia Petrova (maternal ancestor)
Jonathon Gilbert (paternal ancestor)
Samantha Gilbert (paternal ancestor)
Nationality
American
Status
Alive (Deceased in flash-forward)
Elena Gilbert is a fictional character and protagonist in the novel series The Vampire Diaries. In The Vampire Diaries, set in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, she is portrayed by Nina Dobrev. In the books, Elena was blonde, popular, selfish and a "mean girl". However the show's producers, Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson, felt that it wasn't the direction they wanted to go with their heroine in The Vampire Diaries television series. Instead, she became a nicer, relatable and more of "the girl next door" type, until her life gets flipped upside down when she meets the Salvatores. In April 2015, Nina Dobrev announced that she would be departing the series after the sixth season finale.
Much of Elena's story revolves around her relationships with vampires Stefan Salvatore and his older brother, Damon. It is revealed that Elena is a Petrova Doppelgänger, which is thus responsible for her being identical to her ancestor, Katherine Pierce (née Katerina Petrova). This also has the implication of making her a supernatural creature. Dobrev portrayed the "conniving" Katherine as well, who is opposite of Elena. The actress stated that it has been a challenge distinguishing the two, and enjoys playing them both. In the television series's fourth season, Elena becomes a vampire and deals with the struggles that come with her change. She took the cure and became human again towards the end of the sixth season. In the finale of the sixth season, Kai linked Elena to Bonnie's life by magic. Elena will only wake up when Bonnie dies in around 60 years. She was locked inside the Salvatore tomb, which was changed in the seventh season, and was relocated in Brooklyn, New York. In late 2016, when it was announced that the eighth season would be the final season, Dobrev was in talks about returning to the television series to reprise her role in the final episode. After much speculation. Dobrev's return was confirmed on January 26, 2017, via an Instagram post. Dobrev appeared in the final episode of the show as both Elena and her evil doppelgänger Katherine Pierce.
Contents
[hide]
1 Casting and portrayal
2 Development
2.1 Characterization
2.2 Romances
2.3 Transition
3 Television series
3.1 Backstory
3.2 Storyline
3.2.1 Season 1
3.2.2 Season 2
3.2.3 Season 3
3.2.4 Season 4
3.2.5 Season 5
3.2.6 Season 6
3.2.7 Season 7
3.2.8 Season 8
4 Reception
5 Merchandising
6 References
7 External links
Casting and portrayal[edit]
When I look in the mirror, I just feel different when I'm Katherine or when I'm Elena. My voice changes a little bit, I think, and even just mentally, I feel like I can get away with a lot more.[1]
“
”
—Dobrev
On March 9, 2009, it was announced that Bulgarian-born Canadian actress Nina Dobrev, known for her portrayal of Mia Jones on Degrassi: The Next Generation, had joined the cast of The Vampire Diaries as Elena.[2] She was the second cast member to be announced following Steven R. McQueen, who plays Elena's brother Jeremy Gilbert.[3] Steve West Cinema Blend said the vampire brothers' battle over Elena will wreak havoc on the entire town.".[2] Executive producer Kevin Williamson recalled Dobrev auditioning while having the flu, which he described as the "worst audition ever", and they "didn't even look at her a second time". Dobrev went back home to Canada, yet, still wanting the part, she submitted a videotape audition, which saw her cast as Elena Gilbert.[4]
Dobrev said that after reading the script, she was drawn to Elena because she was "this average girl who was damaged in many ways".[5] Initially, she believed that she would be playing the "bad girl" Elena from the books, but the show wanted to go in a different direction for the character.[4] After researching, Dobrev discovered she would also play Elena's 534-year-old vampire doppelgänger Katherine Pierce whose characteristics are the "complete opposite".[5] Dobrev described this as "one of the rarest, coolest opportunities in television, to play two people on the same medium". She had confessed that she enjoys playing Katherine more than Elena.[5] Dobrev stated that she changes her appearance to distinguish Elena from her doppelgänger, Katherine; "Changing my hair helps me transform," she told Glamour.[6] Additionally, she said "I think I have one of the coolest characters on the show — I get to play two completely different people on opposite sides of the spectrum and I just have so much fun doing it".[4] Dobrev felt that her biggest challenge on The Vampire Diaries was distinguishing Katherine and Elena, and found it "interesting" to create a whole new character.[1] In the novels, Katherine originated from Germany. However, in the television series, she is Bulgarian, as is Dobrev, who can speak the language fluently . Dobrev said, "The writers heard me speaking Bulgarian to my mom on the phone while I was on set one day. One thing led to the other and voila".[7]
Development[edit]
Characterization[edit]
Nina Dobrev, who plays Elena Gilbert, at PaleyFest 2014
In the books, Elena is considered "one of the popular girls" at her high school and always gets "anything she wants".[8] Executive producer of the television show, Julie Plec, said the Elena from the books was "really kind of selfish". In The Vampire Diaries, Elena's "selfishness" in the books as a human was never explored, because it "didn't ever feel like a characteristic" the show wanted for their heroine.[9] Plec said "We kind of abandoned that queen-bee popular complex that in a lot of ways defined early Elena in the books", while feeling that Elena's actual flaw is her "deep, deep connection to other people".[9] In the books, Elena had blonde hair, but has brown hair in the television show.[10] Describing Elena from the books, Dobrev said she is "one of those mean girls that gets what she wants, popular . . . and she's blonde and blue eyed". Williamson told her that "the angle we wanted to go for was the relatable, nice, girl next door, who the audience roots for".[4] Katherine, on the other hand, is penned as a "conniving, narcissistic, bitch".[4] Describing Elena years later, Dobrev said she evolved from a "younger, naive, sad, young girl" to a "strong woman".[1]
Romances[edit]
Before The Vampire Diaries, Elena dated Matt Donovan (Zach Roerig), who was unable to move past his feelings for her initially after their break-up.[11] Elena began dating Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley), and later discovered he was a vampire.[12] As the episodes progressed, she developed a connection with Stefan's adventurous brother Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder), who consumes human blood, unlike Stefan, who has an animal blood diet.[13] Speaking about the different qualities Stefan and Damon bring to Elena, Dobrev said they have "different qualities that are very appealing", which combined make "the perfect man". She said "Stefan is committed and sweet and protective and loving, and Damon is spontaneous and crazy and fun and exciting".[5]
Dobrev with her Vampire Diaries co-stars Paul Wesley (Stefan) and Ian Somerhalder (Damon) at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con International.
After Elena became a vampire, she became sired to Damon and they slept together. According to Plec during an interview with TVLine, Elena "really believes what she feels is 100 percent genuine and real", and the couple "wants to be together and realizes that they shouldn’t, yet really wants to. So what do they do?"[14] Stefan became heartbroken, feeling angry and betrayed, and lashed out at Damon and Elena.[15] In the season 4 finale, an unsired Elena confirms that she is in love with Damon, and the two kiss passionately. At the end of season 6, the two plan to become human, get married, and have children together, but their dream is abruptly compromised by Kai, who puts Elena into a magical coma. Damon remains entirely devoted to Elena throughout the remaining two seasons as Elena sleeps peacefully. In the season 8 finale, she is revealed to be happily married to Damon. Elena considers Damon to be the love of her life and her soulmate.
Transition[edit]
Executive producers Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson agreed that in the book series, Elena was turned into a vampire too early, which was around page 200 of The Awakening.[16] Elena's transition into a vampire was planned for two years. Plec said: "That felt obviously too soon, and rushed, and we didn’t want to make a show about a teenage girl who instantly becomes a vampire. But we always knew that her journey would take her there eventually".[16] At the second season's conclusion, Elena was nearly turned into a vampire.[1] Dobrev was happy that she wasn't, because she felt "it would have been too soon", and also didn't think it was something Elena or she wanted.[1]
In the show's third season, Elena has a brain hemorrhage which was initially thought to be a concussion, and begins to die.[17] In what was described by the International Business Times as "the moment Vampire Diaries fans have been waiting for", Elena had to choose whether to be driven to Damon or Stefan to say goodbye to. At the time, Klaus was killed, meaning all vampires sprouting from his bloodline also die, which includes Damon and Stefan. She picks to say goodbye to Stefan.[17] However, all these vampires end up surviving when Klaus never really dies. To save her, Doctor Merideth Fell (Torrey DeVitto) fed Elena Damon's blood. Rebekah Mikaelson kills Elena on Wickery Bridge, unaware of the vampire blood in her system. She woke up as a vampire at the end of the season.[17] The Hollywood Reporter interviewed Plec, and described her transition as "monumental changes" which would have Elena in for a "wild ride". Plec said Elena becoming a vampire is "an awakening of a person who is about to go through a lot of changes", and "she is going to evolve as a person and her relationships are going to evolve accordingly".[18] While Stefan was afraid she would hurt someone, Damon thought it was inevitable and wanted to "rip the band-aid off".[18] Plec felt that "She’s, unfortunately, not getting the same advice from the two people she values most in the world. It’s going to make it more difficult for her",[18] while describing the situation as "a whole new Elena and it’s a whole new day. It’s a different dynamic between the three of them especially".[18]
Television series[edit]
Backstory[edit]
Elena Gilbert is born on June 22, 1992 in Mystic Falls, Virginia to John Gilbert (David Anders) and Isobel Flemming (Mia Kirshner) while they were still in highschool. With the help of John's brother Grayson, Isobel and John flee town days later, leaving Grayson and his wife Miranda to adopt Elena as their own. A doctor, Grayson fakes a birth certificate so that it appeared Elena was his daughter with Miranda. The next year, Miranda and Grayson had a child of their own, Jeremy Gilbert. Elena dates her childhood friend Matt Donovan, who was her first love. On 23 May 2009, Elena is picked up by her mother and father after getting in a fight with Matt while attending the party. The three of them later end up in a car accident, with their car driving off a bridge. Stefan Salvatore finds them, and saves Elena, but it was too late to save Grayson and Miranda, who died. It remained unknown for months who saved Elena, and it was considered a miracle that she lived. Her relationship with Matt ended when they broke up.
Storyline[edit]
Season 1[edit]
Elena, still empty after losing her parents, begins to fit back into school. She meets a mysterious new student named Stefan Salvatore. They connect instantly, and begin dating. She meets his older and malevolent brother, Damon. After researching, Elena realizes Stefan was alive in 1953. It is later revealed that he is a 162-year-old vampire. Damon also begins falling for Elena. After she and Stefan slept together, Elena finds a picture of a woman named Katherine Pierce who looks exactly like her. Stefan reveals that it is the woman who made him and Damon feud 145 years ago, and the person who turned them into vampires. He also told her that he is the person that saved her the night of her parents death. At the end of season one, Elena discovers that Grayson and Miranda weren't her biological parents, and that a woman named Isobel and her uncle John, who she grew up hating, were.
Season 2[edit]
In season two, she learns that she is a Petrova doppelgänger, having an appearance just like Katherine Pierce, which means that she has to be sacrificed to release Klaus' werewolf side. The sacrifice later happens, but Elena is saved, because John sacrificed himself for her after being put under a spell by Bonnie. However, her aunt Jenna is turned into a vampire and, as part of the sacrifice, is killed by Klaus, leaving Elena without a guardian. In the season two finale, while Damon is dying due to a werewolf bite, she forgives him for forcing her to drink his blood and kisses him with the thought that it might be Damon's last day, however Damon gets cured by drinking Klaus' blood.
Season 3[edit]
In season three, Elena does everything in her power to make Stefan get his humanity back, which was turned off by Klaus as payment for saving Damon from a werewolf bite in the latter part of season two. Meanwhile, she grows closer to Damon while working together on saving Stefan and trying to defeat Klaus, eventually even sharing a kiss. She later admits to Stefan that she has feelings for Damon as well but that she never stopped loving Stefan. While in Denver together, Elena kisses Damon, later telling him that she doesn't know how she feels about him. It is eventually revealed that Elena met Damon the night of her parent's death, though he compelled her to forget. She eventually chooses Stefan in the season finale but before she can tell him, Elena drowns while having vampire blood in her system. During the last moments of season three, she awakens as a vampire in transition.
Season 4[edit]
In season four, Elena is faced with the tough decision of whether to die or to feed on human blood so she can fully transition into a vampire. Elena, after realizing Stefan's desperation to keep her alive, decides to complete her transition. Her relationship with Stefan ends, allowing her to begin a proper romance with Damon. Although, it is later revealed there is a sire bond between them. Sometime later whilst searching for the cure for vampirism, Jeremy is fed to the immortal Silas by Katherine. As a result, Damon used the sire bond to convince her to turn off her humanity, due to her incredible grief over losing her brother and the last remaining member of her family. Elena became ruthless without her emotions, going on killing sprees and being very hateful towards her friends. Towards the end of season four, Damon kills Matt in front of Elena to trigger her grief. After revealing that Matt had the Gilbert Ring on, Elena's humanity was switched on and her emotions were focused on hate towards Katherine for killing Jeremy. Season four ended with Bonnie as a ghost after bringing Jeremy back to life and Elena fed Katherine the cure for vampirism in a moment of desperation as she was about to be killed. Elena had chosen Damon as the Salvatore that she loved.
Season 5[edit]
In season five, Elena starts at Whitmore College and is happy after spending the summer with Damon. There she realises that Silas has taken Stefan's place and that Stefan is in that safe in a river constantly drowning. She and Damon then find the safe, only to find a dead body there meaning that someone opened the safe and Stefan is a Ripper again. However, Qyetsiyah had fried Stefan's brain causing him to suffer amnesia. While trying to bring him back, they almost kiss meaning that she still feels something for him. Qyetsiyah soon brings back Stefan's memories and says that Elena and Stefan were always meant to be as the Universe had to unite the doppelgängers of Silas and Amara. This leaves Damon and Elena questioning their relationship. Later on she is kidnapped and experimented on by Wes Maxfield, and she learns that her father also used to experiment on vampires. Later, when Katherine is about to die as a result of all of her years catching up with her as a result of having the cure in her system, Katherine uses a spell and possesses Elena, a fact that her friends were initially unable to deduce. But once they did, they trapped Katherine and left her with no escape. Stefan stabbed her with the traveller dagger, but ghost Katherine reveals to Bonnie, shortly before trying to cross into the Other Side, that she had injected Dr. Maxfield's enhanced ripper/werewolf virus into Elena's body, infecting Elena. The gang is eventually able to find an antidote. She unfortunately loses trust in Damon, partly because he killed her friend Aaron, so they break up, but realise they cannot survive being apart and get back together. Once Markos and his traveller army begin to take over Mystic Falls, setting an anti-magic barrier around the town, the gang comes up with a plan to take out the travellers by killing them all at the same time, overpowering the anchor to the Other Side AKA Bonnie and creating a possible way out of the now-collapsing Other Side. Elena and Damon drive into the gas-filled Mystic Grill with most of the travellers in it, blowing it up and killing most of the people in it, including Elena and Damon. She wakes up as a ghost and finds her body, sending her to Bonnie, where she passes to the Other Side, and she and many others are able to pass back to the land of the living afterwards. But the spell that allows this is broken before Damon passes back through, and as Bonnie is the anchor, she is a part of the Other Side and shall therefore disappear along with it. This leaves the gang mourning the loss of Damon and Bonnie in the season finale.
Season 6[edit]
In season six, Elena starts back at Whitmore, and is unable to set foot in her hometown. She is also unable to recover from Damon's death and starts lurking the borders of Mystic Falls in order to grab civilians, drink their blood, then compel them to forget, but as spirit magic no longer works in Mystic Falls, any of her victims who cross into the town remember the ordeal, putting her identity as a vampire at risk when one of her victims, Sarah, comes to town. Elena begs Alaric to compel her to forget that she ever loved Damon, which Alaric is able to do, due to him being an Enhanced Original, with the ability to compel other vampires. She eventually wears him down and asks her friends to never remind her once the compulsion had been done. After a number of failed attempts, Alaric successfully compels her to forget her love for Damon. She however leaves Alaric with some of her reminders of Damon, should she ever need them again. She is told of her former feelings for Damon soon afterwards, but decides to stay the way she is, as she doesn't want to go back to being unhappy again. She starts to date her classmate, Liam. Once Damon comes back to life, Alaric tries to convince Elena to allow him to undo the compulsion, a decision she is reluctant to make. She eventually decides to have him undo it, but Alaric goes back to being human again after crossing into Mystic Falls, causing him to lose his vampire status (he only stayed alive because his once fatal human injuries were healed), meaning he will not be able to do so. She is then left to finally come face-to-face with Damon and see if she'll still feel the same way about him. They eventually rekindle their relationship,Elena takes the cure that Bonnie gave Damon. At Alaric's wedding Kai ruins their wedding and casts a sleeping spell on Elena, linking her life to Bonnie's. She makes a sacrifice to let Bonnie live out her life until it is her turn. She bids goodbye to her friends and loved ones before parting ways but knows that she will see Damon, Stefan and Caroline again one day.
Season 7[edit]
Elena doesn't make an appearance but is heard calling Damon's name when he visits the Armory vault. It was a way of Sybill, the Siren, luring him into a trap.
Season 8[edit]
In the final episode, Elena makes an appearance. When a weakened Bonnie dies from the sounding bell, she meets Elena in a dream-like forest. Elena hugs her and wonders if she really has died. Enzo appears and says it isn't her time and takes Bonnie back to the world of the living. When Bonnie wakes up, it was Stefan who resuscitated her. Elena, asleep, is then taken to the Mystic Falls High School by Katherine and places her in the boiler room. Stefan tries to rescue Elena, but Katherine had Kai spell the boiler room, so that Elena can't be taken out of the room. After Bonnie had deflected the hellfire back into the bell, Bonnie passes out. Elena wakes up and wanders the school. Stefan meets up with her. It looks like Bonnie has died, but in fact Elena is still sleeping and Stefan's ghost came to visit her in her dream. He had taken the place of killing Katherine instead of Damon, since Damon is human after Stefan gave him the cure. He came to say goodbye. After a tearful hug and saying goodbye, Stefan goes into afterlife. Elena finally wakes up because Bonnie has broken the spell over her. Elena reunites with Damon and the rest of the gang. Elena gives Caroline the message Stefan whispered into her ear, saying he did hear her voice message and will love her forever. In the epilogue, Elena continued to studying medical school. After finishing her education, she went back to Mystic Falls and lived together with Damon, happily married for a long time. After living out her life, she crosses over to the afterlife where she finally reunites with her parents, Aunt Jenna and Uncle John.
Reception[edit]
Elena has received mainly positive reviews. Steve West of the Cinema Blend compared the story of The Vampire Diaries and the character of Elena to the popular vampire franchise, Twilight, and its protagonist Bella Swan. West said "Clearly Elena is way hotter than Bella, she has two immortal vampires fighting over her".[2] After she transitioned into a vampire, Carina Adly MacKenzie of Zap2it hoped that the "fierce" and "ripper" side of Elena would emerge when "someone messes with the people she loves".[19] McKenzie noted that when a person becomes a vampire, "their strongest personality traits are heightened", and hoped that wouldn't see Elena's "compassion and selflessness" double into "helping old ladies with their groceries and nursing injured animals back to health".[19] Robyn Ross of TV Guide also hoped that after Elena "has had a taste for blood", she would lose control. Prior to her becoming a vampire, Ross thought she was less fun and "slightly boring", and wanted Elena to follow her instinct and "stop protecting everyone's feelings".[20]
Elena's romances with Stefan and Damon have become a popular craze with viewers, who have nicknamed them "Stelena" and "Delena".[21] Andy Swift of the website HollywoodLife praised Elena's relationship with Damon, which was a combination of real love and a sired bond, hoping they would live "happily ever after".[21] Vlada Gelman of TVLine, however, felt that their romance was "over in a rather mature way for a young love triangle" and questioned whether Elena was "ready to jump into a relationship with Damon right away" while Stefan was still in the picture.[22]
Merchandising[edit]
Tonner Doll Company, Inc. created dolls for Elena and Katherine along with Stefan and Damon, from 1864.[23][24]
References[edit]
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Vestal, Shannon (25 July 2011). "Nina Dobrev Interview About The Vampire Diaries at Comic-Con". Buzzsugar, PopSugar. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b c West, Steve (9 March 2009). "Vampire Diaries Finds Its Heroine In Nina Dobrev". Cinema Blend. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
Jump up ^ Schneider, Michael (27 February 2009). "CW casts 'Melrose Place,' 'Vampire'". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Tasty bites: The Vampire Diaries cast dishes". Buzzsugar, PopSugar. 21 January 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Gordon, Jillian. "The Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev". Saturday Night Magazine. Michael H. Ritter. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
Jump up ^ "Nina Dobrev 'Glamour' Interview: Star Talks 'Vampire Diaries,' Beauty And Ian Somerhalder". The Huffington Post. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
Jump up ^ Bibel, Sara (3 March 2011). "'Vampire Diaries': Nina Dobrev Sinks Her Teeth Into Dual Role". Xfinity, Comcast. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
Jump up ^ Covel, Bonnie. "The Vampire Diaries Book Series by L.J. Smith". About. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b Bricker, Tierney (6 June 2012). "Vampire Diaries Boss Sounds Off on Elena's Transition and Dark Side!". E! Online, NBCUniversal. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
Jump up ^ Vernon, Cheril (14 August 2009). "The Vampire Diaries: New photos". Crushable. crushable.com. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
Jump up ^ Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec (writers), Marcos Siega (director) (10 September 2009). "The Vampire Diaries episode 01". The Vampire Diaries. Series 1. Episode 1. The CW.
Jump up ^ Sean Reycraft, Gabrielle Stanton (writers), Kevin Bray (director) (8 October 2009). "The Vampire Diaries episode 05". The Vampire Diaries. Series 1. Episode 5. The CW.
Jump up ^ Barbie Kligman, Andrew Chambliss (writers), David Von Ancken (director) (15 April 2010). "The Vampire Diaries episode 18". The Vampire Diaries. Series 1. Episode 18. The CW.
Jump up ^ Gelman, Vlada (13 December 2012). "Post Mortem: Vampire Diaries Boss on the Big Death, Elena and Damon's Struggles and More!". TVLine, PMC. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
Jump up ^ Gelman, Vlada (28 December 2012). "Vampire Diaries Boss on Stefan's Anger, Jeremy's Killer Urges and Caroline and Tyler's Future". TVLine, PMC. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b Bierly, Mandi (11 May 2012). "'Vampire Diaries' EP Julie Plec talks season finale shocker and what comes next". Entertainment Weekly. Time Warner. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b c Remling, Amanda (10 May 2012). "Vampire Diaries? Season 3 Finale: Elena Turns Into A Vampire, Chooses Stefan Before She Dies". International Business Times, Etienne Uzac. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Ng, Philiana (5 October 2012). "'Vampire Diaries' Boss Previews Elena's Dilemmas, Dueling Salvatores and a 'Lonely' Damon". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b MacKenzie, Carina Adly (24 May 2012). "'The Vampire Diaries' Season 4: Elena vs Katherine and 10 other things we want to see". Zap2it. Tribune Media Services. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
Jump up ^ Ross, Robyn (2 November 2011). "The Vampire Diaries: 5 Ways We Want Elena to Lose Control". TV Guide. tvguide.com. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b Swift, Andy (6 December 2012). "'Vampire Diaries' Recap: Will Damon Choose To Let Elena Go?". HollywoodLife, PMC. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
Jump up ^ Gelman, Vlada (15 November 2012). "Vampire Diaries Recap: Confessions of the Heart". TVLine, PMC. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
Jump up ^ "Elena Gilbert Vampire Diaries Doll by Tonner". Man of Action Figures. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
Jump up ^ "The Vampire Diaries™ | Tonner Doll Company". Tonner Doll Company, Inc. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
External links[edit]
Elena Gilbert on IMDb
[hide]
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The Vampire Diaries
Episodes
Season 1
"Pilot"
"The Night of the Comet"
"Friday Night Bites"
"Family Ties"
"You're Undead to Me"
"Lost Girls"
"Haunted"
"162 Candles"
"History Repeating"
"The Turning Point"
"Bloodlines"
"Unpleasantville"
"Children of the Damned"
"Fool Me Once"
"A Few Good Men"
"There Goes the Neighborhood"
"Let the Right One In"
"Under Control"
"Miss Mystic Falls"
"Blood Brothers"
"Isobel"
"Founder's Day"
Season 2
"The Return"
"Brave New World"
"Bad Moon Rising"
"Memory Lane"
"Kill or Be Killed"
"Plan B"
"Masquerade"
"Rose"
"Katerina"
"The Sacrifice"
"By the Light of the Moon"
"The Descent"
"Daddy Issues"
"Crying Wolf"
"The Dinner Party"
"The House Guest"
"Know Thy Enemy"
"The Last Dance"
"Klaus"
"The Last Day"
"The Sun Also Rises"
"As I Lay Dying"
Season 3
"The Birthday"
"The Hybrid"
"The End of the Affair"
"Disturbing Behavior"
"The Reckoning"
"Smells Like Teen Spirit"
"Ghost World"
"Ordinary People"
"Homecoming"
"The New Deal"
"Our Town"
"The Ties That Bind"
"Bringing Out the Dead"
"Dangerous Liaisons"
"All My Children"
"The Departed"
Season 4
"Growing Pains"
"Memorial"
"The Rager"
"The Five"
"The Killer"
"We All Go a Little Mad Sometimes"
"My Brother's Keeper"
"We'll Always Have Bourbon Street"
"O Come, All Ye Faithful"
"After School Special"
"Catch Me If You Can"
"A View to a Kill"
Season 5
"I Know What You Did Last Summer"
"True Lies"
"Original Sin"
"For Whom the Bell Tolls"
"Monster's Ball"
"Handle with Care"
"Death and the Maiden"
"Dead Man on Campus"
"The Cell"
"Fifty Shades of Grayson"
"500 Years of Solitude"
"The Devil Inside"
"Total Eclipse of the Heart"
"No Exit"
"Gone Girl"
"While You Were Sleeping"
"Rescue Me"
"Resident Evil"
"Man on Fire"
"What Lies Beneath"
"Promised Land"
"Home"
Season 6
"I'll Remember"
"Yellow Ledbetter"
"Welcome to Paradise"
"Black Hole Sun"
"The World Has Turned and Left Me Here"
"The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get"
"Do You Remember the First Time?"
"Fade Into You"
"I Alone"
Season 7
"Gods and Monsters"
Season 8
"I Was Feeling Epic"
Characters
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Katherine Pierce
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Damon Salvatore
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L. J. Smith
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season 1
2
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Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elena_Gilbert&oldid=814584854"
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