Laurence Soderblom, PhD
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
The evolution of Titan's mid-latitude clouds
An integrated view of the chemistry and mineralogy of martian soils
Rain, winds and haze during the Huygens probe's descent to Titan's surface
Provenance and diagenesis of the evaporite-bearing Burns formation, Meridiani Planum, Mars
Evidence from Opportunity’s Microscopic Imager for water on Meridiani Planum
RADAR: The Cassini Titan Radar Mapper
Textures of the soils and rocks at Gusev Crater from Spirit’s Microscopic Imager
Preparing for THEMIS controlled global Mars mosaics
In situ evidence for an ancient aqueous environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars
Soils of eagle crater and Meridiani Planum at the opportunity Rover landing site
9969 Braille: Deep Space 1 infrared spectroscopy, geometric albedo, and classification
Localization and physical property experiments conducted by opportunity at Meridiani Planum
Science and Products
- Maps
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 137
The evolution of Titan's mid-latitude clouds
Spectra from Cassini's Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer reveal that the horizontal structure, height, and optical depth of Titan's clouds are highly, dynamic. Vigorous cloud centers are seen to rise from the middle to the upper troposphere within 30 minutes and dissipate within the next hour. Their development indicates that Titan's clouds evolve convectively; dissipate through rain; and,AuthorsC.A. Griffith, P. Penteado, K. Baines, P. Drossart, J. Barnes, G. Bellucci, J. Bibring, R. Brown, B. Buratti, F. Capaccioni, P. Cerroni, R. Clark, M. Combes, A. Coradini, D. Cruikshank, V. Formisano, R. Jaumann, Y. Langevin, D. Matson, T. McCord, V. Mennella, R. Nelson, P. Nicholson, B. Sicardy, Christophe Sotin, L. A. Soderblom, R. KursinskiAn integrated view of the chemistry and mineralogy of martian soils
The mineralogical and elemental compositions of the martian soil are indicators of chemical and physical weathering processes. Using data from the Mars Exploration Rovers, we show that bright dust deposits on opposite sides of the planet are part of a global unit and not dominated by the composition of local rocks. Dark soil deposits at both sites have similar basaltic mineralogies, and could reflAuthorsA. S. Yen, Ralf Gellert, C. Schroder, R.V. Morris, J.F. Bell, A.T. Knudson, B. C. Clark, D. W. Ming, J.A. Crisp, R. E. Arvidson, D. Blaney, J. Brückner, P. R. Christensen, D.J. DesMarais, P.A. De Souza, T.E. Economou, A. Ghosh, B.C. Hahn, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, L.A. Haskin, J.A. Hurowitz, B.L. Joliff, J. R. Johnson, G. Klingelhofer, M.B. Madsen, S. M. McLennan, H.Y. McSween, L. Richter, R. Rieder, D. Rodionov, Laurence A. Soderblom, S. W. Squyres, N.J. Tosca, A. Wang, M. Wyatt, J. ZipfelRain, winds and haze during the Huygens probe's descent to Titan's surface
The irreversible conversion of methane into higher hydrocarbons in Titan's stratosphere implies a surface or subsurface methane reservoir. Recent measurements from the cameras aboard the Cassini orbiter fail to see a global reservoir, but the methane and smog in Titan's atmosphere impedes the search for hydrocarbons on the surface. Here we report spectra and high-resolution images obtained by theAuthorsM.G. Tomasko, B. Archinal, T. Becker, B. Bezard, M. Bushroe, M. Combes, D. Cook, A. Coustenis, C. De Bergh, L.E. Dafoe, L. Doose, S. Doute, A. Eibl, S. Engel, F. Gliem, B. Grieger, K. Holso, E. Howington-Kraus, E. Karkoschka, H.U. Keller, Randolph L. Kirk, R. Kramm, M. Kuppers, P. Lanagan, E. Lellouch, M. Lemmon, J. Lunine, E. McFarlane, J. Moores, G.M. Prout, B. Rizk, M. Rosiek, P. Rueffer, S.E. Schroder, B. Schmitt, C. See, P. Smith, Laurence A. Soderblom, N. Thomas, R. WestProvenance and diagenesis of the evaporite-bearing Burns formation, Meridiani Planum, Mars
Impure reworked evaporitic sandstones, preserved on Meridiani Planum, Mars, are mixtures of roughly equal amounts of altered siliciclastic debris, of basaltic provenance (40 ± 10% by mass), and chemical constituents, dominated by evaporitic minerals (jarosite, Mg-, Ca-sulfates ± chlorides ± Fe-, Na-sulfates), hematite and possibly secondary silica (60 ± 10%). These chemical constituents and theirAuthorsS. M. McLennan, J.F. Bell, W. M. Calvin, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, P.A. de Souza, J. Farmer, W. H. Farrand, D.A. Fike, Ralf Gellert, A. Ghosh, T.D. Glotch, J.P. Grotzinger, B. Hahn, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J.A. Hurowitz, J. R. Johnson, S.S. Johnson, B. Jolliff, G. Klingelhofer, A.H. Knoll, Z. Learner, M. C. Malin, H.Y. McSween, J. Pocock, S. W. Ruff, Laurence A. Soderblom, S. W. Squyres, N.J. Tosca, W.A. Watters, M.B. Wyatt, A. YenEvidence from Opportunity’s Microscopic Imager for water on Meridiani Planum
The Microscopic Imager on the Opportunity rover analyzed textures of soils and rocks at Meridiani Planum at a scale of 31 micrometers per pixel. The uppermost millimeter of some soils is weakly cemented, whereas other soils show little evidence of cohesion. Rock outcrops are laminated on a millimeter scale; image mosaics of cross-stratification suggest that some sediments were deposited by flowingAuthorsKenneth E. Herkenhoff, S. W. Squyres, R. Arvidson, D.S. Bass, J. F. III Bell, P. Bertelsen, B. L. Ehlmann, W. Farrand, Lisa R. Gaddis, R. Greeley, J. Grotzinger, A. G. Hayes, S.F. Hviid, J. R. Johnson, B. Jolliff, K.M. Kinch, A. H. Knoll, M.B. Madsen, J.N. Maki, S. M. McLennan, H.Y. McSween, D. W. Ming, J. W. Rice, L. Richter, M. Sims, P. H. Smith, Laurence A. Soderblom, Nicole Spanovich, R. Sullivan, S. Thompson, T. Wdowiak, C. Weitz, P. WhelleyRADAR: The Cassini Titan Radar Mapper
The Cassini RADAR instrument is a multimode 13.8 GHz multiple-beam sensor that can operate as a synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) imager, altimeter, scatterometer, and radiometer. The principal objective of the RADAR is to map the surface of Titan. This will be done in the imaging, scatterometer, and radiometer modes. The RADAR altimeter data will provide information on relative elevations in selecteAuthorsC. Elachi, M.D. Allison, L. Borgarelli, P. Encrenaz, E. Im, M.A. Janssen, W.T.K. Johnson, Randolph L. Kirk, R. D. Lorenz, J. I. Lunine, D.O. Muhleman, S.J. Ostro, G. Picardi, F. Posa, C.G. Rapley, L.E. Roth, R. Seu, Laurence A. Soderblom, S. Vetrella, S. D. Wall, C. A. Wood, H. A. ZebkerTextures of the soils and rocks at Gusev Crater from Spirit’s Microscopic Imager
The Microscopic Imager on the Spirit rover analyzed the textures of the soil and rocks at Gusev crater on Mars at a resolution of 100 micrometers. Weakly bound agglomerates of dust are present in the soil near the Columbia Memorial Station. Some of the brushed or abraded rock surfaces show igneous textures and evidence for alteration rinds, coatings, and veins consistent with secondary mineralizatAuthorsKenneth E. Herkenhoff, S. W. Squyres, R. Arvidson, D.S. Bass, J. F. III Bell, P. Bertelsen, N.A. Cabrol, Lisa R. Gaddis, A. G. Hayes, S.F. Hviid, J. R. Johnson, K.M. Kinch, M.B. Madsen, J.N. Maki, S. M. McLennan, H.Y. McSween, J. W. Rice, M. Sims, P. H. Smith, Laurence A. Soderblom, Nicole Spanovich, R. Sullivan, A. WangPreparing for THEMIS controlled global Mars mosaics
We have begun work to prepare for producing controlled 2001 Mars Odyssey THEMIS infrared (IR) and visible (VIS) global mosaics of Mars. This effort is being coordinated with colleagues from Arizona State University and on the THEMIS team who plan to address radiometric issues in making such mosaics. We are concentrating on geometric issues. Several areas of investigation are now in progress, incluAuthorsBrent A. Archinal, Lynn A. Weller, Stuart C. Sides, Glen E. Cushing, Randolph L. Kirk, Laurence A. Soderblom, T. C. DuxburyIn situ evidence for an ancient aqueous environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars
Sedimentary rocks at Eagle crater in Meridiani Planum are composed of fine-grained siliciclastic materials derived from weathering of basaltic rocks, sulfate minerals (including magnesium sulfate and jarosite) that constitute several tens of percent of the rock by weight, and hematite. Cross-stratification observed in rock outcrops indicates eolian and aqueous transport. Diagenetic features includAuthorsS. W. Squyres, J.P. Grotzinger, R. E. Arvidson, J.F. Bell, W. Calvin, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, J.A. Crisp, W. H. Farrand, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J. R. Johnson, G. Klingelhofer, A.H. Knoll, S. M. McLennan, H.Y. McSween, R.V. Morris, J. W. Rice, R. Rieder, Laurence A. SoderblomSoils of eagle crater and Meridiani Planum at the opportunity Rover landing site
The soils at the Opportunity site are fine-grained basaltic sands mixed with dust and sulfate-rich outcrop debris. Hematite is concentrated in spherules eroded from the strata. Ongoing saltation exhumes the spherules and their fragments, concentrating them at the surface. Spherules emerge from soils coated, perhaps from subsurface cementation, by salts. Two types of vesicular clasts may representAuthorsLaurence A. Soderblom, R. C. Anderson, R. E. Arvidson, J.F. Bell, N.A. Cabrol, W. Calvin, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, T. Economou, B.L. Ehlmann, W. H. Farrand, D. Fike, Ralf Gellert, T.D. Glotch, M.P. Golombek, R. Greeley, J.P. Grotzinger, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, D.J. Jerolmack, J. R. Johnson, B. Jolliff, C. Klingelhofer, A.H. Knoll, Z.A. Learner, R. Li, M. C. Malin, S. M. McLennan, H.Y. McSween, D. W. Ming, R.V. Morris, J. W. Rice, L. Richter, R. Rieder, D. Rodionov, C. Schroder, F.P. Seelos, J.M. Soderblom, S. W. Squyres, R. Sullivan, W.A. Watters, C.M. Weitz, M.B. Wyatt, A. Yen, J. Zipfel9969 Braille: Deep Space 1 infrared spectroscopy, geometric albedo, and classification
Spectra of Asteroid 9969 Braille in the 1.25-2.6 ??m region returned by the Deep Space 1 (DS1) Mission show a ???10% absorption band centered at 2 ??m, and a reflectance peak at 1.6 ??m. Analysis of these features suggest that the composition of Braille is roughly equal parts pyroxene and olivine. Its spectrum between 0.4 and 2.5 ??m suggests that it is most closely related to the Q taxonomic typeAuthorsB. J. Buratti, D.T. Britt, L. A. Soderblom, M.D. Hicks, D. C. Boice, R. H. Brown, R. Meier, R.M. Nelson, J. Oberst, T.C. Owen, A.S. Rivkin, B.R. Sandel, S. A. Stern, N. Thomas, R.V. YelleLocalization and physical property experiments conducted by opportunity at Meridiani Planum
The location of the Opportunity landing site was determined to better than 10-m absolute accuracy from analyses of radio tracking data. We determined Rover locations during traverses with an error as small as several centimeters using engineering telemetry and overlapping images. Topographic profiles generated from rover data show that the plains are very smooth from meter- to centimeter-length scAuthorsR. E. Arvidson, R. C. Anderson, P. Bartlett, J.F. Bell, P. R. Christensen, P. Chu, K. Davis, B.L. Ehlmann, M.P. Golombek, S. Gorevan, E.A. Guinness, A. F. C. Haldemann, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, G. Landis, R. Li, R. Lindemann, D. W. Ming, T. Myrick, T. Parker, L. Richter, F.P. Seelos, Laurence A. Soderblom, S. W. Squyres, R.J. Sullivan, Jim Wilson