EARTH SCIENCE

Earth scientists at JPL conduct research to characterize and understand the atmosphere, land, and
oceans on our home planet to make better predictions of future changes. Our wide-ranging research
topics include studies of distributions of ozone, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and aerosols in the
atmosphere, roles of clouds and aerosols in Earths radiation balance, ocean circulation and interactions
between the oceans and atmosphere, cirrus cloud formation, and soil moisture in the global water cycle,
earthquake fault systems, volcanic eruptions, and the composition of Earths surface. Our research
incorporates field and laboratory studies, balloon, aircraft, and satellite-based observations, theoretical
modeling, and data analysis. We are key participants in NASAs Earth Observation System (EOS)
missions, and JPL investigators lead the science teams for five EOS instruments: the Advanced
Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), Multi-angle Imaging Spectro
Radiometer (MISR), Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS), and
Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES). A world of possibilities awaits you at JPL. Here you will find
opportunities for research not possible anywhere else.
Atmospheric Science
We combine remotely sensed data acquired from spaceborne, airborne, and ground-based instruments
with numerical models of the thermodynamic, radiative, and chemical properties of the atmosphere and
evolution of weather and climate. We employ state-of-the-art experimental techniques to measure the
kinetic, photochemical, and spectroscopic parameters related to elementary atmospheric processes.
Our remote-sensing measurements, which include data from the spaceborne AIRS, MISR, MLS, TES, and
CloudSat instruments, span the electromagnetic spectrum from the visible to the microwave. We also
participate in field campaigns to study hurricanes and other atmospheric processes with aircraft
instruments developed at JPL. We pioneered remote sensing at submillimeter microwave frequencies
and the use of multi-angle imaging to estimate the distributions and microphysical properties of
aerosols, altitude of clouds, and wind velocity vectors from multi-angle imagery. Our scientists have
extensive knowledge of instrument design and calibration and retrievals of atmospheric state
parameters from remotely sensed data, and are leading the use of such data in atmospheric research.
We are leading the development of key technologies to enable the Aerosol-Cloud-Ecosystem (ACE),
Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE), and Precipitation and All-weather
Temperature and Humidity (PATH) missions.
Geology and Geophysics
We employ active and passive remote-sensing techniques, including radar interferometry, multispectral
imaging, and satellite-based mapping of Earths gravitational field to study deep crustal and mantle
processes, earthquakes and active tectonics, volcanic gas emissions and eruption plumes, geothermal
phenomena, surface composition, and dynamic mass changes in the oceans and ice sheets. In addition,
we employ forward modeling, inversion techniques, and numerical simulation to analyze earthquake
focal mechanism data, coseismic, postseismic, and interseismic strain measurements, and model the
response of the crust to large earthquakes. We lead the science teams for the Shuttle Radar Topography
(SRTM) and ASTER missions, and have prominent roles in the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment
(GRACE) mission, as well as the upcoming Deformation, Ecosystem Structure, and Dynamics of Ice
(DESDynI), GRACE Follow-On, and Hyperspectral and Infrared Imager (HyspIRI) missions.
 Earth Sciences
Earth scientists at JPL conduct research to characterize and understand the atmosphere, land, and oceans on
our home planet to make better predictions of future changes. Research is carried out in laboratory studies,
aircraft, balloon, ground and space-based observations, theoretical modeling, and data analysis.

ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE
Atmospheric scientists at JPL conduct fundamental research, employing end-to-end expertise in observations
from multiple vantage points to better characterize Earths atmosphere and improve models of regional and
global climate to reduce uncertainties in projections of future change. We provide scientific leadership in
conceiving, developing, implementing, and operating JPLs climate and atmosphere observing experiments.
Cross-cutting themes in atmospheric research at JPL include:

Tropospheric chemistry Remote sensing measurements to investigate local air quality and the impacts
of long-range transport of pollution, especially from large cities and biomass burning, on global chemistry
and climate
Stratospheric chemistry Remote sensing measurements to enhance understanding of Earth
atmospheric chemistry and dynamics from the upper troposphere to the mesosphere, including the
stratospheric ozone layer and its links to climate
Aerosols and clouds Advanced techniques for remote sensing of aerosols and clouds, critical
components of the climate system
Satellite data analysis and retrieval algorithms Extraction of geophysical information from raw satellite
observations
Ground-based, aircraft, and balloon-borne atmospheric composition measurements International field
campaigns for science and validation of remote sensing measurements, development and demonstration of
new measurement capabilities, and long term climate data records
Laboratory kinetics and spectroscopy Critical laboratory measurements of reaction rates and details of
gas absorption features that support a broad range of activities in Earth and planetary science and
astrophysics
Climate forcing and feedback Space- and ground-based measurements of atmospheric CO2; analysis of
how water vapor, clouds, and aerosols interact
Improving the reliability of climate model projections Theory, simulation and the utilization of multi-
platform satellite remote sensing data to address critical questions related to modeling regional and global
climate and reducing uncertainty in climate models

CYROSPHERE SCIENCE
Scientists in the cryospheric sciences focus on understanding the role of the polar regions in global climate and
sea level. Researchers have made use of GRACE, QuikSCAT, Synthetic Aperture Radar, ICESAT, and new modeling
techniques to track changes in the cryosphere.

EARTH SURFACE AND INTERIOR SCIENCE

Solid earth studies at JPL involve a wide cross-section of researchers that specialize in remote sensing,
topography, geodesy, geosciences, volcanology, hazard prediction. All of these research activities are supported
by lab studies, models, and, in some cases, space-borne observational instruments.
The solid earth research focuses on research in six basic areas:
 deep crustal and mantle processes
remote sensing of the Earth's surface using radar and hyperspectral imaging
near surface topography and interdisciplinary studies of geomorphological processes
cryosphere/hydrosphere/solid earth gravity and mass changes
the study of crustal faulting, subsidence and volcano deformation using advanced InSAR imaging methods
understanding the role of the solid earth in monitoring sea level changes

Support for the group is primarily provided by the Solid Earth and Natural Hazards focus area of NASA's Science
Mission Directorates.

OCEAN SCIENCE
Ocean Science researchers at JPL study the circulation of the oceans, are involved in ocean modeling, and closely
watch air-sea interactions. They are committed to contributing to planning for future missions with, for example,
simulation experiments. JPL aims for an end-to-end approach to its work,that includes in situ and remote sensing
technology, data analysis, numerical modeling, assimilation, prediction, and information management. An
important new direction in this area is the development of the expertise and infrastructure required to transition
basic science and research to practical operations, providing value-added information and products as well as
decision support tools to policy/decision makers.
 Project in
RESEARCH
Submitted by:
CHRISTIAN V. BALINADO
Submitted to:
MRS. ROSE ANNE L. LAIDA