Goddard Space Flight Center
Planetary Systems Laboratory

Planetary Systems Laboratory


Picture of John C. Pearl

John C. Pearl

Planetary Systems Laboratory
NASA/GSFC, Code 693.0
Greenbelt, MD 20771

Phone: (301) 286-8487

Email: John Pearl


Current Position


    AST, Space Sciences (Planetary Astronomer), Planetary Systems Laboratory

Education


1961 - B.S.E., University of Michigan
1963 - M.S., University of Michigan
1970 - Ph.D., Physics, Univ. of Michigan

    Research Area Experience:Free molecular flow in cavities; kinematics of electron impact excitation of atoms to metastable states; co-investigator on Mariner 9 (Mars orbiter) infrared spectroscopy experiment; planetary atmospheric pressure determination from infrared spectra; co-investigator on Voyager (outer planet flyby mission) infrared spectroscopy experiment; thermal infrared studies of outer planets' satellites; co-investigator on Mars Global Surveyor (orbiter) thermal emission spectroscopy experiment; co-investigator on Cassini (Saturn orbiter) infrared spectroscopy experiment.

    APPOINTMENTS:
    1959-61 - Assistant Research Physicist, Space Physics Research Lab., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
    1961-62 - Instructor (secondary school), Trinity College, Kandy, Ceylon
    1962-70 - Assistant Research Physicist, Space Physics Research Lab., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Professional Society Memberships


American Physical Society
American Geophysical Union
Division of Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society
Optical Society of America

Honors and Awards


  • 2000 - NASA Group Achievement Award
  • 1999 - NASA Group Achievement Award
  • 1996 - NASA/GSFC Special Act Award
  • 1991 - NASA/GSFC Outstanding Performance Award
  • 1991 - NASA/GSFC Exceptional Performance Award
  • 1990 - NASA/GSFC Outstanding Performance Award
  • 1986 - NASA/GSFC Special Achievement Award
  • 1981 - NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal
  • 1960 - Tau Beta Pi


    • PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT ACTIVITIES:
      NASA REVIEW PANELS: Jupiter Data Analysis, Mars Data Analysis, Planetary Atmospheres, Planetary Geology and Geophysics, MGS Data Analysis, MGS Guest Investigator.
      MANUSCRIPT REVIEWS: Science, JGR, Icarus, Planetary and Space Science, J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech.
      CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES: Program Committee DPS 1994, 2000; Program Committee Photolysis and Radiolysis of Outer Solar System Ices (PROSSI), 2000.
      GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER: Library Users Committee c.a. 1972-1976; Member Scientific Colloquium Committee, 1989-2002.

      MENTORING:
    • NRC Postdoctoral Associates: Wallace McMillan (1991-1994); Michael Smith (1995-1998); Joshua Bandfield (2001-2002).
    • U.C. Berkely Co-op program (NTESS): Joshua Miele (1992-1993)
    • U. Md Co-op program: Lori Fenton (1994-1996)
    • SIECA Program: Kendra Walker (Summer 1996)
    • UMBC Meyerhoff Program: Bobby Allen (1996-1997)
    • UMBC Meyerhoff Program: Ade Gordon (1997-2000)
    • Nat. Space Club Scholars Program: Alex Meckelburg (1999-2000)
    • Summer Faculty Fellowship Program: David Klassen (Summer 2001)


    • EDUCATION AND OUTREACH:
      Occasional lectures to school classes, astronomy clubs, and other groups on Voyager, MGS, atmospheric optics.
      Presentation on atmospheric optics to AMS teachers' conference, 1995.
      Invited Science Lecturer, Jakarta International School, Jakarta, Indonesia, Feb. 24-28, 1997.

      PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CLASSES (GSFC): IDL; Unix Fundamentals and System Administration; Russian I & II.

      PROJECT WORKING GROUPS: Voyager Satellites WG; Cassini Satellite Surfaces WG; Cassini Satellite Orbiter Science Team (SOST), Cassini Atmospheres Target Working Team, Cassini Cross-Discipline Target Working Team, Cassini Rings Target Working Team, Cassini Rings Target Working Team, Cassini Magnetosphere Target Working Team.

      PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS: Contributed talks at AGU, DPS, OSA meetings:

      INVITED TALKS:
      "The Surface Composition of Io," Capistrano Conference no. 3, 1993.
      "13-50 Micrometer Spectral Features on Io," Solar System Ices Colloquium, Toulouse, 1995.
      "The Atmosphere of Mars," Colloquium on Solar System Exploration, National University of Mexico, Mexico City, 1999.

    Selected Publications


    2005  "Bright-region Radiative Properties within the Mars South Polar Cap (Ls=231) from Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging" (Note). D.A. Glenar, G. Hansen, G. Bjoraker, M. Smith, J. Pearl, D. Blaney. Icarus 174, 600-603.

    2005  "Temperatures, Winds, and Compositon in the Saturnian System." F.M. Flasar, R.K. Achterberg, B.J. Conrath, J.C. Pearl, G.L. Bjoraker, D.E. Jennings, P.N. Romani, A.A. Simon-Miller, V.G. Kunde, C.A. Nixon, B. Bézard, G.S. Orton, L.J. Spilker, J.R. Spencer, P.G.J. Irwin, N.A. Teanby, T.C. Owen, J. Brasunas. M.E. Segura, R.C. Carlson, A. Mamoutkine, P.J. Gierasch, P.J. Schinder, M.R. Showalter, C. Ferrari, A. Barucci, R. Courtin, A. Coustenis, T. Fouchet, D. Gautier, E. Lellouch, A. Marten, R. Prangé, D.F. Strobel, S.B. Calcutt, P.L. Read, F.W. Taylor, N. Bowles, R.E. Samuelson, M.M. Abbas, F. Raulin, P. Ade, S. Edgington, S. Pilorz, B. Wallis, E.H. Wishnow. Science 307, 1247-1251.

    2005  "An Intense Stratospheric Jet on Jupiter" (Letter). F.M. Flasar, V.G. Kunde, R.K. Achterberg, B.J. Conrath, A.A. Simon-Miller, C.A. Nixon, P.J. Gierasch, P.N. Romani, B. Bézard, P. Irwin, G.L. Bjoraker, J.C. Brasunas, D.E. Jennings, J.C. Pearl, M.D. Smith, G.S. Orton, L.J. Spilker, R. Carlson, S.B. Calcutt, P.L. Read, F.W. Taylor, P. Parrish, A. Barucci, R. Courtin, A. Coustenis, D. Gautier, E. Lellouch, A. Marten, R. Prangé, Y. Biraud, T. Fouchet, C. Ferrari, T.C. Owen, M.M. Abbas, R.E. Samuelson, F. Raulin, P. Ade, C.J. Césarsky, K.U. Grossman, A. Coradini. Nature 427, 132-135.

    2005  "Titan's Atmospheric Temperatures, Winds, and Composition". F. M. Flasar, R. K. Achterberg, B. J. Conrath, P. J. Gierasch, V. G. Kunde, C. A. Nixon, G. L. Bjoraker, D. E. Jennings, P. N. Romani , A. A. Simon-Miller, B. Bézard, P. G. J. Irwin, N. A. Teanby, J. Brasunas, J. C. Pearl, M. E. Segura, R. C. Carlson, A. Mamoutkine, P. J. Schinder, A. Barucci, R. Courtin, A. Coustenis, T. Fouchet, D. Gautier, E. Lellouch, A. Marten, R.Prangé, S. Vinatier, D. F. Strobel, S. B. Calcutt, P. L. Read, F. W. Taylor, N. Bowles, R. E. Samuelson, G. S. Orton, L. J. Spilker, T. C. Owen, J. R . Spencer, M. R. Showalter, C. Ferrari, M. M. Abbas, F. Raulin, S. Edgington, P. Ade, E. H. Wishnow. (submitted to Science).

    2005  "Cassini CIRS Observations of a Roll-off in Saturn Ring Spectra at Submillimeter Wavelengths." L.J. Spilker, S.H. Pilorz, B.D. Wallace, S.G. Edgington, S.M. Brooks, J.C. Pearl, F.M. Flasar. (submitted to Earth, Moon and Planets).

    2004  "Exploring the Saturn System in the Thermal Infrared: the Composite Infrared Spectrometer". F.M. Flasar, V.G.Kunde, M.M. Abbas, R.K. Achterberg, P. Ade, A. Barucci, B. Bézard, G.L. Bjoraker, J.C. Brasunas, C. Calcutt, R. Carlson, C.J. Césarsky, B.J. Conrath, A. Corodini, R. courtin, A, Coustenis, S. Edberg, S, Edgington, C. Ferrari, T. Fouchet, D. Gautier, P.J. Gierasch, K. Grossman, P. Irwin, D.E. Jennings, E. Lellouch, A.A. Mamoutkine, A. Marten, J.P. Meyer, C.A. Nixoon, G.S. Orton, T.C. Owen, J.C. Pearl, R. Prangé, F. Raulin, P.L. Read, P.N. Romani, R.E. Samuelson, M.E. Segura, M.R. showalter, A.A. Simon-Miller, M.D. Smith, J.R. Spencer, L.J. Spilker, F.W. Taylor. Space Science Reviews 115, 169-297.

    2003  "Spectral Imaging of Martian Water Ice Clouds and their Diurnal Behavior During the 1999 Aphelion Season (Ls=130o)", D.A. Glenar, R.E. Samuelson, J.C. Pearl, G.L. Bjoraker, D. Blaney, Icarus 161, 297-318.

    2003  "Discovery of Olivine in the Nili Fossae Region of Mars". T.M. Hoefen, R.N. Clark, J.L. Bandfield, M.D. Smith, J.C. Pearl, P.R. Christensen, Science 302, 627.

    2002  "MGS TES Results: Atmospheric Structure, Aerosols, and Dynamics", B.J. Conrath, J.C. Pearl, M.D. Smith, P.R. Christensen, IAU SYMP 12, 638-641.

    2002  "Thermal Emission Spectrometer Observations of Martian Planet-Encircling Dust Storm 2001A", M.D. Smith, B.J. Conrath, J.C. Pearl, P.R. Christensen, Icarus 157, 259-263.

    2001  "Observations of Martian Ice Clouds by the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer: The First Martian Year," J.C. Pearl, M.D. Smith, B.J. Conrath, P.R. Christensen, JGR 106: 12325-12338.

    2001  "One Martian Year of Atmospheric Observations by the Thermal Emission Spectrometer", M.D. Smith, J.C. Pearl, B.J Conrath and P.R. Christensen, Geophys. Res. Lett. 28, 4263-4266.

    2001  "Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer Experiment: Investigation Description and Surface Science Results", P.R. Christensen, J.L. Bandfield, V.E. Hamilton, S.W. Ruff, H.H. Kieffer, T.N. Titus, M.C. Malin, R.V. Morris, M.D. Lane, R.L. Clark, B.M. Jakosky, M.T. Mellon, J.C. Pearl, B.J. Conrath, M.D. Smith, R.T. Clancy, R.O. Kuzmin, T. Roush, G.L. Mehall, N. Gorelick, K. Bender, K. Murray, S. Dason, E. Greene, S. Silverman and M. Greenfield, JGR 106, 23823-23871.

    2001  "Assimilation of Mars Global Surveyor Atmospheric Temperature Data into a General Circulation Model", K.Q. Zhang, A.P. Ingersoll, D.M. Kass, J.C. Pearl, M.D. Smith, B.J. Conrath and R.M. Haberle, JGR 106: 32863-32877.

    2001  "Thermal Emission Spectrometer Results: Mars Atmospheric Thermal Structure and Aerosol Distribution", M.D. Smith, J.C. Pearl, B.J. Conrath, P.R. Christensen, JGR 106, 23929-23945.