Carle M Pieters
Carle M Pieters
Professor Emerita of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences
Overview
After having worked at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and as a Peace Corps volunteer in Sarawak, Malaysia, I joined the Brown faculty in 1980 as a Research Professor. A few years later I joined the Brown academic faculty. My general research interests include planetary exploration and evolution of planetary surfaces with an emphasis on remote compositional analyses and spectroscopic techniques.
Brown Affiliations
Research Areas
Publications
| Dhingra, Deepak, Head, James W., Pieters, Carle M. "Geological mapping of impact melt deposits at lunar complex craters Jackson and Tycho: Morphologic and topographic diversity and relation to the cratering process." Icarus, vol. 283, 2017, pp. 268-281. |
| Moriarty, D. P., Pieters, C. M. "Complexities in pyroxene compositions derived from absorption band centers: Examples from Apollo samples, HED meteorites, synthetic pure pyroxenes, and remote sensing data." Meteoritics & Planetary Science, vol. 51, no. 2, 2016, pp. 207-234. |
| Taylor, Lawrence A., Pieters, Carle M., Britt, Daniel. "Evaluations of lunar regolith simulants." Planetary and Space Science, vol. 126, 2016, pp. 1-7. |
| Williams, Kelsey B., Jackson, Colin R.M., Cheek, Leah C., Donaldson-Hanna, Kerri L., Parman, Stephen W., Pieters, Carle M., Dyar, M. Darby, Prissel, Tabb C. "Reflectance spectroscopy of chromium-bearing spinel with application to recent orbital data from the Moon." American Mineralogist, vol. 101, no. 3, 2016, pp. 726-734. |
| Pieters, Carle M., Noble, Sarah K. "Space weathering on airless bodies." Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, vol. 121, no. 10, 2016, pp. 1865-1884. |
| Basilevsky, A.T., Abdrakhimov, A.M., Head, J.W., Pieters, C.M., Wu, Yunzhao, Xiao, Long. "Geologic characteristics of the Luna 17/Lunokhod 1 and Chang'E-3/Yutu landing sites, Northwest Mare Imbrium of the Moon." Planetary and Space Science, vol. 117, 2015, pp. 385-400. |
| Dhingra, Deepak, Pieters, Carle M., Head, James W. "Multiple origins for olivine at Copernicus crater." Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 420, 2015, pp. 95-101. |
| McKay, D.S., Cooper, B.L., Taylor, L.A., James, J.T., Thomas-Keprta, K., Pieters, C.M., Wentworth, S.J., Wallace, W.T., Lee, T.S. "Physicochemical properties of respirable-size lunar dust." Acta Astronautica, vol. 107, 2015, pp. 163-176. |
| Moriarty, Daniel P., Pieters, Carle M. "The nature and origin of Mafic Mound in the South Pole-Aitken Basin." Geophys. Res. Lett., vol. 42, no. 19, 2015, pp. 7907-7915. |
| Pieters, Carle M., Murchie, Scott, Thomas, Nicolas, Britt, Daniel. "Composition of Surface Materials on the Moons of Mars." Planetary and Space Science, vol. 102, 2014, pp. 144-151. |
| Prissel, T.C., Parman, S.W., Jackson, C.R.M., Rutherford, M.J., Hess, P.C., Head, J.W., Cheek, L., Dhingra, D., Pieters, C.M. "Pink Moon: The petrogenesis of pink spinel anorthosites and implications concerning Mg-suite magmatism." Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 403, 2014, pp. 144-156. |
| Pieters, C. M., Hanna, K. D., Cheek, L., Dhingra, D., Prissel, T., Jackson, C., Moriarty, D., Parman, S., Taylor, L. A. "The distribution of Mg-spinel across the Moon and constraints on crustal origin." American Mineralogist, vol. 99, no. 10, 2014, pp. 1893-1910. |
| Jackson, C. R. M., Cheek, L. C., Williams, K. B., Hanna, K. D., Pieters, C. M., Parman, S. W., Cooper, R. F., Dyar, M. D., Nelms, M., Salvatore, M. R. "Visible-infrared spectral properties of iron-bearing aluminate spinel under lunar-like redox conditions." American Mineralogist, vol. 99, no. 10, 2014, pp. 1821-1833. |
Research
Research Overview
Research Statement
Laboratory spectroscopy experiments: Relying largely on RELAB capabilities, much of laboratory research involves measuring and modeling the interaction of visible to mid-infrared radiation with geologic materials. This includes extensive measurement and analyses of lunar samples, meteorites, and relevant other materials.
Lunar science: Using remote compositional analysis from spacecraft and telescopic multi-spectral data science questions focus on formation and evolution of the lunar crust. Craters and large basins are used as probes to the interior. The character and evolution of the enormous South Pole-Aitken Basin continues to be under detailed investigation.
Space weathering: A diverse range of processes are responsible for altering materials in the space environment. We focus on identifying and measuring the effects of these processes on geologic samples. Ultimately, we wish to understand the evolution of the regolith on airless planetary bodies.
Dawn Science Team: As a Dawn Co-Investigator, my role first focused on planning the mission to study the large asteroids Vesta and Ceres in detail. Principal responsibilities later included integration of remote compositional measurements and development of links to meteorites and understanding of early solar system processes.
International collaboration: Emphasis has involved promoting and assisting in planning international exploration with Germany, England, Japan, Russia, and India. Additional topics include quantitative modeling of lunar sample data and geologic analysis of multi-spectral images with scientists at Kharkov University, Ukraine.
Funded Research
Recent Research:
Dawn [a Discovery Mission, C. Russell, PI] (2090 G DC288); C. Pieters CoI, JPL/NASA Discovery Program
Moon Mineralogy Mapper, (NNM05AB26C); C. Pieters, PI, NASA Discovery Program
Trailblazer [a SIMPLEX mission to the Moon, launch Oct. 2023; Bethany Elhmann, PI] C. Pieters CoI
Scholarly Work
Pieters C. M. and the M3 Science Team (2008) The Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) on Chandrayaan-1, Current Science in press
Pieters C.M., R. L. Klima, T. Hiroi, M. D. Dyar, M. D. Lane, A. H. Treiman, S. K. Noble, J. M. Sunshine, and J. L. Bishop. (2008) Martian Dunite NWA 2737: Integrated Spectroscopic Analyses of Brown Olivine, J. Geophys. Res. 113, E06004, doi: 10.1029/2007JE002939.
Petro, N. E. and Pieters, C. M. (2008) The Lunar-Wide Effects of Basin Ejecta Distribution on the Early Megaregolith, Meteoritics and Planetary Science, v. 43(8), p. 1517-1529.
Nimura, T., T. Hiroi, and C. M. Pieters (2008), An improved scheme for modeling the reflectance spectra of space-weathered regoliths, Earth Planets Space, 60, 271-275.
Klima, RL, CM Pieters, and MD Dyar (2008) Characterization of the 1.2 µm M1 pyroxene band: Extracting cooling history from near-IR spectra of pyroxenes and pyroxene-dominated rocks, Meteoritics and Planetary Science. vol 43, 1591-1604
Isaacson PJ and CM Pieters (2008) Origins of the Northern Imbrium Noritic Anomaly, J. Geophys Res., submitted
Junichi Haruyama, Makiko Ohtake, Tsuneo Matsunaga, Tomokatsu Morota, Chikatoshi Honda,Yasuhiro Yokota, Masanao Abe, Yoshiko Ogawa, Hideaki Miyamoto, Akira Iwasaki, Carle M. Pieters, Noriaki Asada, Hirohide Demura, Naru Hirata, Junya Terazono, Sho Sasaki, Kazuto Saiki, Atsushi Yamaji, Masaya Torii, Jean-Luc Josset (2008b) Long-Lived Volcanism on the Lunar Farside Revealed by SELENE Terrain Camera, Science Express: [Published online 6 November 2008; 10.1126/science.1163382]
Junichi Haruyama, Makiko Ohtake, Tsuneo Matsunaga, Tomokatsu Morota, Chikatoshi Honda, Yasuhiro Yokota, Carle M. Pieters, Seiichi Hara, Kazuyuki Hioki, Kazuto Saiki, Hideaki Miyamoto, Akira Iwasaki, Masanao Abe, Yoshiko Ogawa, Hiroshi Takeda, Motomaro Shirao, Atsushi Yamaji,Jean-Luc Josset (2008a) Lack of Exposed Ice Inside Lunar South Pole Shackleton Crater, Science, Volume 322, Issue 5903, pp. 938- [Published online 23 October 2008; 10.1126/science.1164020]
Dyar, MD., E.C. Sklute, O.N. Menzies, P.A. Bland, D. Lindsley, T. Glotch, M.D. Lane, M.W. Schaeffer, B. Wopenka, R. Klima, J.L. Bishop, T. Hiroi, C. Pieters, and J. Sunshine Spectroscopic Characteristics of Synthetic Olivine: An Integrated Multi-Wavelength and Multi-Technique Approach (2008) Am. Min. in press.
Background
Education and Training
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | PhD | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 1972 | MS | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 1971 | BS | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 1966 | BA | Antioch College |
Honors and Awards
Elected Fellow of American Astronomical Society, 2020
Elected Fellow of Meteoritical Society, 2016
Awarded SSERVI Shoemaker Medal and Lecturer 2015
Awarded International Cooperation Medal, Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) 2014
Elected Fellow of Geological Society of America, 2011
Shoemaker Lecturer, American Geophysical Union, 2010 Fall Meeting
Awarded GSA G. K. Gilbert Award, 2010.
Awarded NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal 2010
Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2008.
Awarded Gerard P. Kuiper Prize, American Astronomical Society, Division for Planetary Sciences, 2004.
President, ILEWG (International Lunar Exploration Working Group), elected 2002-2004.
Chair, American Association Advancement of Science, Astronomy Section, elected 2002/3.
Elected Fellow, American Geophysical Union, 2001.
Asteroid 3713 Pieters named in honor.
President, American Geophysical Union, Planetology Section, (elected office), 1996-1998.
Board of Trustees, Universities Space Research Association (elected member), 1994-1997.
Chair, Division of Planetary Sciences, American Astronomical Society, (elected office), 1992-1993.
Secretary, American Geophysical Union, Planetology Section, (elected office), 1986-1988.
Member, Committee of the Division of Planetary Science, Am. Astron. Soc., (elected office) 1986-1989.
Chair, Universities Space Research Association, Council of Institutions (elected office), 1985-1986.
Affiliations
Affiliations
Member (and Vice-Chair), NASA Advisory Council Science Committee 2013 – 2017
• Member, OSIRIS-Rex Standing Review Board 2013 – 2017
• Chair, AGU Fellows Committee 2013-2014
• Member, AGU Honors and Recognition committee 2010-2014
• Member, Planetary Protection Subcommittee 2002 to 2013 [although the name changes]
• Member, AGU Flinn award committee (2006-2010)
• Member, AGU Planetary Sciences section Awards Committee, 2009-2010.
• Chair, Awards Committee, AGU, Planetary Sciences Section (2006 to 2009)
• Chair, MoonLITE Science Evaluation Board, NASA-UK (2008)
• Co-Chair, National Academies, NRC Space Studies Board, Committee on Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon (2006-2007)
• Member, AGU Fellows Committee [2001 to 2006]]
- Science Manager, NASA/Keck Reflectance Experiment Laboratory (RELAB) [1980-2014]
- Associate Editor, Meteoritics and Planetary Sciences, 1998-present
- Chair, Solar System Exploration Survey, Inner Planets Panel, NAS/NRC [2001/2]
- Past President, Planetary Sciences Section, American Geophysical Union, 1998 - 2000
Teaching
Teaching Overview
GEOL 0160: First Year Seminar: Mysteries of the Earth and Planets: Fact, Fiction, or Undetermined
GEOL 1710: Remote Sensing of Earth and Planetary Surfaces
GEOL 2810: Planetary Science Seminar: Special Topics in Spectroscopy
GEOL 2840: Asteroids and Meteorites
GEOL 2850: Regolith Processes
GEOL 2870: Planetary Evolution: Moon
ADVISING
Former Graduate Students:
Janice Bishop, Ph.D. '94
Daniel Britt, Ph.D. '91
Leah Cheek, Ph.D. '13
Kerri Donaldson-Hanna, Ph.D. '13
Jessica Cohen, Sc.M. '01
Deepak Dhingra, Ph.D. '14
Erich Fischer, Ph.D. '95
Peter Isaacson, Ph.D. '10
Rachel Klima, Ph.D. '08
Daniel Moriarty, Ph.D. '16
John Mustard, Ph.D. '90
Sarah Noble, Ph.D. '04
Noah Petro, Ph.D. '07
Matthew Staid, Ph.D. '00
Jessica Sunshine, Ph.D. '94
Stephanie Tompkins, Ph.D. '97
Steven Yon, Sc.M. '87