Laurence A. Soderblom is a geophysicist with the United States Geological Survey in Flagstaff, Arizona. He has been involved in numerous JPL planetary missions including the Mariner 6, 7, and 9, Viking, Voyager, Magellan, Galileo, Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Pathfinder, Deep Space 1, Cassini, Huygens, and the Mars Exploration Rovers.
From 1978 to 1996 he twice served as Chief of the Branch of Astrogeology of the United States Geological Survey. During 1983-84 he was a Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Scholar at Caltech. He attended New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology receiving two Bachelor Degrees in geology and in physics and Caltech where he received a PhD in planetary science and geophysics. Soderblom has been engaged in a broad collection of planetary research tasks including theoretical modeling of planetary surface processes and ground-based and spacecraft instrument development. Currently he is heavily involved in the Mars Exploration Rover and the Cassini-Huygens Missions.
Recent Accomplishments
Education
- New Mexico Institute of Technology - Geology, B.S. 1966
- New Mexico Institute of Technology - Physics, B.S. 1966
- California Institute of Technology - Geophysics and Planetary Science, Ph.D. 1970
Professional Studies/Experience
- Associate Investigator on Mariner 6 and 7 TV Team (1969-1970)
- Associate Investigator on Mariner 9 TV Experiment Team (1970-1973)
- Associate Investigator Viking Orbiter Imaging Team (1976-1981)
- Member, Galileo Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (1978-2001)
- Deputy Team Leader Voyager Imaging Science Team (1971-1990)
- Member Magellan Project Steering Group (1978-1999)
- Interdisciplinary Scientist, Mars Global Surveyor (1989-2002)
- Member, Mars Global Surveyor Camera Team (1989-2002)
- Member Huygens DISR Team (1990- )
- Member Cassini RADAR Team (1990- )
- Interdisciplinary Scientist, Cassini Project (1990- )
- Member of the Imager for Mars Pathfinder Team (1994-1998)
- Team Leader, MICAS New Millennium Deep Space 1 (1997-2001)
- Member, Athena Science Team, Mars Exploration Rover Mission (2000-)
Mentorship/Outreach
Professional societies/affiliations/committees/editorial boards
- Associate Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research (1971-1973)
- Member, SSB Committee on Lunar and Planetary Exploration (1973-1977)
- Member, NASA Science Working Group on Terrestrial Planets (1976-1977)
- Member, Lunar and Planetary Review Panel (1977-1979)
- Chairman, NASA Space Science Advisory Committee (1980-1982)
- Member, Solar System Exploration Committee (1980-1982)
- Chairman, NASA Space and Earth Science Advisory Council (1980-1984)
- Member, NASA Advisory Council (1980-1884)
- President, Planetology Section, American Geophysical Union (1984-1986)
- Member, Mars Science Working Group (1983-1985)
- Member, NASA Solar System Exploration Management Council (1987-1988)
- Chairman, NASA Solar System Exploration Subcommittee (1988-1990)
- Member, NASA Space Science and Applications Committee (1988-1990)
- Member, US/USSR Joint Wkg Grp on Solar System Exploration (1988-1992)
- Leader, Visual Infrared Mapping Spectrometer Definition Team (1984-1988)
- Executive Member Solar System Exploration Strategic Planning Committee (1993-1994)
- Member, NASA Mars 2000 Strategic Planning Team (1993-1994)
- Member, NASA Mars Science Working Group (1994-1996)
- Member, New Mil
Science and Products
Geologic map of the Mare Australe area of Mars
The south polar region of Mars is among the most geologically diverse on the planet. The areas is within the heavily cratered hemisphere of Mars but is distinguished by a variety of younger, regionally extensive deposits and an assemblage of unique erosional forms. The spectrum of units varies from the oldest to the youngest on the planet. The oldest unit, typifying the cratered hemisphere, is the
Filter Total Items: 137
Overview of spirit microscopic imager results
This paper provides an overview of Mars Exploration Rover Spirit Microscopic Imager (MI) operations and the calibration, processing, and analysis of MI data. The focus of this overview is on the last five Earth years (2005–2010) of Spirit's mission in Gusev crater, supplementing the previous overview of the first 450 sols of the Spirit MI investigation. Updates to radiometric calibration using in‐
Authors
Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, Steve W Squyres, Raymond E. Arvidson, Shoshanna B Cole, Rob Sullivan, Aileen Yingst, Nathalie Cabrol, Ella (Contractor) Lee, Janet Richie, Robert M. Sucharski, Fred J. Calef, James F. Bell, Mary Chapman, Paul Geissler, Lauren A. Edgar, Brenda Franklin, Joel A. Hurowitz, Elsa Jensen, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Randolph L. Kirk, Peter Lanagan, Kevin Mullins, Craig Leff, Justin Maki, Bonnie L. Redding, Melissa Rice, Michael H. Sims, Richard Springer, Annette Sunda, Nicole Spanovich, Laurence A. Soderblom, Alicia Vaughan
Titan's fluvial valleys: Morphology, distribution, and spectral properties
Titan's fluvial channels have been investigated based on data obtained by the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument and the Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) onboard the Cassini spacecraft. In this paper, a database of fluvial features is created based on radar-SAR data aiming to unveil the distribution and the morphologic and spectral characteristics of valleys on Titan on a gl
Authors
M.H. Langhans, R. Jaumann, K. Stephan, R. H. Brown, B. J. Buratti, Roger N. Clark, K. H. Baines, P. D. Nicholson, R. D. Lorenz, Laurence A. Soderblom, J.M. Soderblom, Christophe Sotin, J. W. Barnes, R. Nelson
Hyperspectral analysis of rocky surfaces on the Earth and other planetary systems: Chapter 27
This book is focused on studies of vegetation on Earth using hyperspectral remote sensing methods. However, it is appropriate to extend the application of these methods out to other rocky bodies in our Solar System for a variety of reasons. First, minerals, soils, and rocks form the substrate on which vegetation grows on Earth. Compositional analyses of these components with hyperspectral data pro
Authors
R. Greg Vaughan, Timothy N. Titus, Jeffery R Johnson, Justin Hagerty, Lisa R. Gaddis, Laurence A. Soderblom, Paul E. Geissler
Opportunity Mars Rover mission: Overview and selected results from Purgatory ripple to traverses to Endeavour crater
Opportunity has been traversing the Meridiani plains since 25 January 2004 (sol 1), acquiring numerous observations of the atmosphere, soils, and rocks. This paper provides an overview of key discoveries between sols 511 and 2300, complementing earlier papers covering results from the initial phases of the mission. Key new results include (1) atmospheric argon measurements that demonstrate the imp
Authors
R. E. Arvidson, James W. Ashley, J.F. Bell, M. Chojnacki, J. Cohen, T.E. Economou, W. H. Farrand, Robin L. Fergason, I. Fleischer, Paul E. Geissler, Ralf Gellert, M.P. Golombek, J.P. Grotzinger, E.A. Guinness, R.M. Haberle, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J.A. Herman, K.D. Iagnemma, B.L. Jolliff, J. R. Johnson, G. Klingelhofer, A.H. Knoll, A.T. Knudson, R. Li, S. M. McLennan, D. W. Mittlefehldt, R.V. Morris, T. J. Parker, M.S. Rice, C. Schroder, Laurence A. Soderblom, S. W. Squyres, R.J. Sullivan, M.J. Wolff
Wave constraints for Titan's Jingpo Lacus and Kraken Mare from VIMS specular reflection lightcurves
Stephan et al. (Stephan, K. et al. [2010]. Geophys. Res. Lett. 37, 7104-+.) first saw the glint of sunlight specularly reflected off of Titan's lakes. We develop a quantitative model for analyzing the photometric lightcurve generated during a flyby in which the specularly reflected light flux depends on the fraction of the solar specular footprint that is covered by liquid. We allow for surface wa
Authors
J. W. Barnes, J.M. Soderblom, R. H. Brown, L. A. Soderblom, K. Stephan, R. Jaumann, Stéphane Le Mouélic, S. Rodriguez, Christophe Sotin, B. J. Buratti, K. H. Baines, R. N. Clark, P. D. Nicholson
Organic sedimentary deposits in Titan's dry lakebeds: Probable evaporite
We report the discovery of organic sedimentary deposits at the bottom of dry lakebeds near Titan’s north pole in observations from the Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS). We show evidence that the deposits are evaporitic, making Titan just the third known planetary body with evaporitic processes after Earth and Mars, and is the first that uses a solvent other than water.
Authors
J. W. Barnes, J. Bow, J. Schwartz, R. H. Brown, J.M. Soderblom, A. G. Hayes, G. Vixie, S. Le Mouelic, S. Rodriguez, Christophe Sotin, R. Jaumann, K. Stephan, L. A. Soderblom, Roger N. Clark, B. J. Buratti, K. H. Baines, P. D. Nicholson
Detection and mapping of hydrocarbon deposits on Titan
We report the identification of compounds on Titan's surface by spatially resolved imaging spectroscopy methods through Titan's atmosphere, and set upper limits to other organic compounds. We present evidence for surface deposits of solid benzene (C6H6), solid and/or liquid ethane (C2H6), or methane (CH4), and clouds of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) aerosols using diagnostic spectral features in data fro
Authors
Roger N. Clark, J. M. Curchin, Jason W. Barnes, Ralf Jaumann, Laurence A. Soderblom, Dale P. Cruikshank, Robert H. Brown, Sebastien Rodriguez, Jonathan Lunine, Katrin Stephan, Todd M. Hoefen, Stephane Le Mouelic, Christophe Sotin, Kevin H. Baines, Bonnie J. Buratti, Philip D. Nicholson
Specular reflection on Titan: Liquids in Kraken Mare
After more than 50 close flybys of Titan by the Cassini spacecraft, it has become evident that features similar in morphology to terrestrial lakes and seas exist in Titan's polar regions. As Titan progresses into northern spring, the much more numerous and larger lakes and seas in the north-polar region suggested by Cassini RADAR data, are becoming directly illuminated for the first time since the
Authors
Katrin Stephan, Ralf Jaumann, Robert H. Brown, Jason M. Soderblom, Laurence A. Soderblom, Jason W. Barnes, Christophe Sotin, Caitlin A. Griffith, Randolph L. Kirk, Kevin H. Baines, Bonnie J. Buratti, Roger N. Clark, Dyer M. Lytle, Robert M. Nelson, Philip D. Nicholson
Geology of the Selk crater region on Titan from Cassini VIMS observations
Observations of Titan obtained by the Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) have revealed Selk crater, a geologically young, bright-rimmed, impact crater located ???800. km north-northwest of the Huygens landing site. The crater rim-crest diameter is ???90. km; its floor diameter is ???60. km. A central pit/peak, 20-30. km in diameter, is seen; the ratio of the size of this featu
Authors
J.M. Soderblom, R. H. Brown, L. A. Soderblom, J. W. Barnes, R. Jaumann, Stéphane Le Mouélic, Christophe Sotin, K. Stephan, K. H. Baines, B. J. Buratti, R. N. Clark, P. D. Nicholson
Diviner lunar radiometer observations of cold traps in the moon's south polar region
Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment surface-temperature maps reveal the existence of widespread surface and near-surface cryogenic regions that extend beyond the boundaries of persistent shadow. The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) struck one of the coldest of these regions, where subsurface temperatures are estimated to be 38 kelvin. Large areas of the lunar polar regions a
Authors
D. A. Paige, M.A. Siegler, J.A. Zhang, P.O. Hayne, E.J. Foote, K.A. Bennett, A.R. Vasavada, B. T. Greenhagen, J. T. Schofield, D. J. McCleese, M. C. Foote, E. DeJong, B.G. Bills, W. Hartford, B. C. Murray, C. C. Allen, K. Snook, L. A. Soderblom, S. Calcutt, F. W. Taylor, N. E. Bowles, J. L. Bandfield, R. Elphic, R. Ghent, T.D. Glotch, M.B. Wyatt, P. G. Lucey
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment
The Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment on NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will be the first instrument to systematically map the global thermal state of the Moon and its diurnal and seasonal variability. Diviner will measure reflected solar and emitted infrared radiation in nine spectral channels with wavelengths ranging from 0.3 to 400 microns. The resulting measurements will enable characte
Authors
D. A. Paige, M. C. Foote, B. T. Greenhagen, J. T. Schofield, S. Calcutt, A. R. Vasavada, D. J. Preston, F. W. Taylor, C. C. Allen, K. Snook, B. M. Jakosky, B. C. Murray, Laurence A. Soderblom, B. Jau, S. Loring, J. Bulharowski, N. E. Bowles, I. R. Thomas, M. T. Sullivan, C. Avis, E. M. De Jong, W. Hartford, D. J. McCleese
The geology of Hotei Regio, Titan: Correlation of Cassini VIMS and RADAR
Joint Cassini VIMS and RADAR SAR data of ∼700-km-wide Hotei Regio reveal a rich collection of geological features that correlate between the two sets of images. The degree of correlation is greater than anywhere else seen on Titan. Central to Hotei Regio is a basin filled with cryovolcanic flows that are anomalously bright in VIMS data (in particular at 5 μm) and quite variable in roughness in SAR
Authors
L. A. Soderblom, R. H. Brown, J.M. Soderblom, J. W. Barnes, R. L. Kirk, Christophe Sotin, R. Jaumann, D. J. MacKinnon, D.W. Mackowski, K. H. Baines, B. J. Buratti, R. N. Clark, P. D. Nicholson
Science and Products
- Maps
Geologic map of the Mare Australe area of Mars
The south polar region of Mars is among the most geologically diverse on the planet. The areas is within the heavily cratered hemisphere of Mars but is distinguished by a variety of younger, regionally extensive deposits and an assemblage of unique erosional forms. The spectrum of units varies from the oldest to the youngest on the planet. The oldest unit, typifying the cratered hemisphere, is the - Publications
Filter Total Items: 137
Overview of spirit microscopic imager results
This paper provides an overview of Mars Exploration Rover Spirit Microscopic Imager (MI) operations and the calibration, processing, and analysis of MI data. The focus of this overview is on the last five Earth years (2005–2010) of Spirit's mission in Gusev crater, supplementing the previous overview of the first 450 sols of the Spirit MI investigation. Updates to radiometric calibration using in‐AuthorsKenneth E. Herkenhoff, Steve W Squyres, Raymond E. Arvidson, Shoshanna B Cole, Rob Sullivan, Aileen Yingst, Nathalie Cabrol, Ella (Contractor) Lee, Janet Richie, Robert M. Sucharski, Fred J. Calef, James F. Bell, Mary Chapman, Paul Geissler, Lauren A. Edgar, Brenda Franklin, Joel A. Hurowitz, Elsa Jensen, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Randolph L. Kirk, Peter Lanagan, Kevin Mullins, Craig Leff, Justin Maki, Bonnie L. Redding, Melissa Rice, Michael H. Sims, Richard Springer, Annette Sunda, Nicole Spanovich, Laurence A. Soderblom, Alicia VaughanTitan's fluvial valleys: Morphology, distribution, and spectral properties
Titan's fluvial channels have been investigated based on data obtained by the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument and the Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) onboard the Cassini spacecraft. In this paper, a database of fluvial features is created based on radar-SAR data aiming to unveil the distribution and the morphologic and spectral characteristics of valleys on Titan on a glAuthorsM.H. Langhans, R. Jaumann, K. Stephan, R. H. Brown, B. J. Buratti, Roger N. Clark, K. H. Baines, P. D. Nicholson, R. D. Lorenz, Laurence A. Soderblom, J.M. Soderblom, Christophe Sotin, J. W. Barnes, R. NelsonHyperspectral analysis of rocky surfaces on the Earth and other planetary systems: Chapter 27
This book is focused on studies of vegetation on Earth using hyperspectral remote sensing methods. However, it is appropriate to extend the application of these methods out to other rocky bodies in our Solar System for a variety of reasons. First, minerals, soils, and rocks form the substrate on which vegetation grows on Earth. Compositional analyses of these components with hyperspectral data proAuthorsR. Greg Vaughan, Timothy N. Titus, Jeffery R Johnson, Justin Hagerty, Lisa R. Gaddis, Laurence A. Soderblom, Paul E. GeisslerOpportunity Mars Rover mission: Overview and selected results from Purgatory ripple to traverses to Endeavour crater
Opportunity has been traversing the Meridiani plains since 25 January 2004 (sol 1), acquiring numerous observations of the atmosphere, soils, and rocks. This paper provides an overview of key discoveries between sols 511 and 2300, complementing earlier papers covering results from the initial phases of the mission. Key new results include (1) atmospheric argon measurements that demonstrate the impAuthorsR. E. Arvidson, James W. Ashley, J.F. Bell, M. Chojnacki, J. Cohen, T.E. Economou, W. H. Farrand, Robin L. Fergason, I. Fleischer, Paul E. Geissler, Ralf Gellert, M.P. Golombek, J.P. Grotzinger, E.A. Guinness, R.M. Haberle, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J.A. Herman, K.D. Iagnemma, B.L. Jolliff, J. R. Johnson, G. Klingelhofer, A.H. Knoll, A.T. Knudson, R. Li, S. M. McLennan, D. W. Mittlefehldt, R.V. Morris, T. J. Parker, M.S. Rice, C. Schroder, Laurence A. Soderblom, S. W. Squyres, R.J. Sullivan, M.J. WolffWave constraints for Titan's Jingpo Lacus and Kraken Mare from VIMS specular reflection lightcurves
Stephan et al. (Stephan, K. et al. [2010]. Geophys. Res. Lett. 37, 7104-+.) first saw the glint of sunlight specularly reflected off of Titan's lakes. We develop a quantitative model for analyzing the photometric lightcurve generated during a flyby in which the specularly reflected light flux depends on the fraction of the solar specular footprint that is covered by liquid. We allow for surface waAuthorsJ. W. Barnes, J.M. Soderblom, R. H. Brown, L. A. Soderblom, K. Stephan, R. Jaumann, Stéphane Le Mouélic, S. Rodriguez, Christophe Sotin, B. J. Buratti, K. H. Baines, R. N. Clark, P. D. NicholsonOrganic sedimentary deposits in Titan's dry lakebeds: Probable evaporite
We report the discovery of organic sedimentary deposits at the bottom of dry lakebeds near Titan’s north pole in observations from the Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS). We show evidence that the deposits are evaporitic, making Titan just the third known planetary body with evaporitic processes after Earth and Mars, and is the first that uses a solvent other than water.AuthorsJ. W. Barnes, J. Bow, J. Schwartz, R. H. Brown, J.M. Soderblom, A. G. Hayes, G. Vixie, S. Le Mouelic, S. Rodriguez, Christophe Sotin, R. Jaumann, K. Stephan, L. A. Soderblom, Roger N. Clark, B. J. Buratti, K. H. Baines, P. D. NicholsonDetection and mapping of hydrocarbon deposits on Titan
We report the identification of compounds on Titan's surface by spatially resolved imaging spectroscopy methods through Titan's atmosphere, and set upper limits to other organic compounds. We present evidence for surface deposits of solid benzene (C6H6), solid and/or liquid ethane (C2H6), or methane (CH4), and clouds of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) aerosols using diagnostic spectral features in data froAuthorsRoger N. Clark, J. M. Curchin, Jason W. Barnes, Ralf Jaumann, Laurence A. Soderblom, Dale P. Cruikshank, Robert H. Brown, Sebastien Rodriguez, Jonathan Lunine, Katrin Stephan, Todd M. Hoefen, Stephane Le Mouelic, Christophe Sotin, Kevin H. Baines, Bonnie J. Buratti, Philip D. NicholsonSpecular reflection on Titan: Liquids in Kraken Mare
After more than 50 close flybys of Titan by the Cassini spacecraft, it has become evident that features similar in morphology to terrestrial lakes and seas exist in Titan's polar regions. As Titan progresses into northern spring, the much more numerous and larger lakes and seas in the north-polar region suggested by Cassini RADAR data, are becoming directly illuminated for the first time since theAuthorsKatrin Stephan, Ralf Jaumann, Robert H. Brown, Jason M. Soderblom, Laurence A. Soderblom, Jason W. Barnes, Christophe Sotin, Caitlin A. Griffith, Randolph L. Kirk, Kevin H. Baines, Bonnie J. Buratti, Roger N. Clark, Dyer M. Lytle, Robert M. Nelson, Philip D. NicholsonGeology of the Selk crater region on Titan from Cassini VIMS observations
Observations of Titan obtained by the Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) have revealed Selk crater, a geologically young, bright-rimmed, impact crater located ???800. km north-northwest of the Huygens landing site. The crater rim-crest diameter is ???90. km; its floor diameter is ???60. km. A central pit/peak, 20-30. km in diameter, is seen; the ratio of the size of this featuAuthorsJ.M. Soderblom, R. H. Brown, L. A. Soderblom, J. W. Barnes, R. Jaumann, Stéphane Le Mouélic, Christophe Sotin, K. Stephan, K. H. Baines, B. J. Buratti, R. N. Clark, P. D. NicholsonDiviner lunar radiometer observations of cold traps in the moon's south polar region
Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment surface-temperature maps reveal the existence of widespread surface and near-surface cryogenic regions that extend beyond the boundaries of persistent shadow. The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) struck one of the coldest of these regions, where subsurface temperatures are estimated to be 38 kelvin. Large areas of the lunar polar regions aAuthorsD. A. Paige, M.A. Siegler, J.A. Zhang, P.O. Hayne, E.J. Foote, K.A. Bennett, A.R. Vasavada, B. T. Greenhagen, J. T. Schofield, D. J. McCleese, M. C. Foote, E. DeJong, B.G. Bills, W. Hartford, B. C. Murray, C. C. Allen, K. Snook, L. A. Soderblom, S. Calcutt, F. W. Taylor, N. E. Bowles, J. L. Bandfield, R. Elphic, R. Ghent, T.D. Glotch, M.B. Wyatt, P. G. LuceyThe Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment
The Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment on NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will be the first instrument to systematically map the global thermal state of the Moon and its diurnal and seasonal variability. Diviner will measure reflected solar and emitted infrared radiation in nine spectral channels with wavelengths ranging from 0.3 to 400 microns. The resulting measurements will enable characteAuthorsD. A. Paige, M. C. Foote, B. T. Greenhagen, J. T. Schofield, S. Calcutt, A. R. Vasavada, D. J. Preston, F. W. Taylor, C. C. Allen, K. Snook, B. M. Jakosky, B. C. Murray, Laurence A. Soderblom, B. Jau, S. Loring, J. Bulharowski, N. E. Bowles, I. R. Thomas, M. T. Sullivan, C. Avis, E. M. De Jong, W. Hartford, D. J. McCleeseThe geology of Hotei Regio, Titan: Correlation of Cassini VIMS and RADAR
Joint Cassini VIMS and RADAR SAR data of ∼700-km-wide Hotei Regio reveal a rich collection of geological features that correlate between the two sets of images. The degree of correlation is greater than anywhere else seen on Titan. Central to Hotei Regio is a basin filled with cryovolcanic flows that are anomalously bright in VIMS data (in particular at 5 μm) and quite variable in roughness in SARAuthorsL. A. Soderblom, R. H. Brown, J.M. Soderblom, J. W. Barnes, R. L. Kirk, Christophe Sotin, R. Jaumann, D. J. MacKinnon, D.W. Mackowski, K. H. Baines, B. J. Buratti, R. N. Clark, P. D. Nicholson