Professor Glotch’s research interests are currently focused on two broad subjects: (1) understanding the role of water in shaping the surface of Mars in terms of both mineralogy and geomorphology, and (2) comparing laboratory spectroscopic and remotely acquired spectroscopic data and the application of these methods for solving various problems in Earth, planetary, and space science.

Remote Sensing of Martian Mineralogy 
Professor Glotch uses several remote sensing instruments to determine the mineralogy of the Martian surface. The composition of a planet’s surface is an important indicator of past geological processes including primary formation of the crust and subsequent aqueous weathering. Below is a map of the mineral hematite (a-Fe₂O₃) in a region of Mars called Aram Chaos. Hematite is an important mineral because it often forms in the presence of liquid water. The map was created using data from the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer (MGS-TES) and the Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS). The large crater is about 300 km across and may have once been a lake.

Fundamental Mineral Spectroscopy 
Professor Glotch is currently working on a project to determine the fundamental optical properties (the real and imaginary indices of refraction) of rock-forming and weathering product minerals at infrared wavelengths. These data are used as inputs into radiative transfer models to investigate the composition and scattering properties of the Martian atmospheric and surface dust. This work will contribute to studies of Martian and terrestrial atmospheric processes, mineralogy of other planetary bodies, cosmic dust, and protoplanetary disks, and the basic physics of small particulate scattering processes.

Selected Publications

Farrand, W. H. T. D. Glotch, J. W. Rice, J. Hurowitz, and G. Swayze, Discovery of jarosite-bearing surfaces within the Mawrth Vallis region of Mars: Implications for the geologic history of the region, Icarus, in press.

Glotch, T. D, and G. R. Rossman, Mid-infrared spectra and optical constants of six iron oxide/oxyhydroxide phases, Icarus, in press.

Bleacher, J. E., L. S. Glaze, R. Greeley, E. Hauber, S. M. Baloga, S. E. H. Sakimoto, D. A. Williams, and T. D. Glotch, Spatial and alignment analyses for a field of small volcanic vents south of Pavonis Mons and implications for the Tharsis province, Mars, J. Volc. Geotherm. Res., in press.

Dyar, M. D., E. C. Sklute, O. N. Menzies, P. A. Bland, D. Lindsley, T. D. Glotch, M. D. Lane, M. W. Schaeffer, B. Wopenka, R. Klima, J. L. Bishop, T. Hiroi, C. Pieters, and J. Sunshine (2009), Spectroscopic characteristics of synthetic olivine: An integrated multi-wavelength and multi-technique approach, Am. Miner., 94, 883-898, 2009.

Calvin, W. M. and 18 others (including T. D. Glotch), Hematite spherules at Meridiani: Results from MI, Mini-TES and Pancam, J. Geophys. Res., 113, E12S37, 2008.

T. D. Glotch, and M. D. Kraft, Thermal transformations of akaganéite and lepidocrocite to hematite: Assessment of possible precursors to Martian crystalline hematite, Phys. Chem. Min.35, 569-581. 2008.

M. M. Osterloo, V. E. Hamilton, J. L. Bandfield, T. D. Glotch, A. M. Baldridge, P. R. Christensen, L. L. Tornabene, and F. S. Anderson, Chloride-bearing materials in the southern highlands of Mars, Science, 319, 1651-1654, 2008.

J. A. Grant, R. P. Irwin III, J. P. Grotzinger, R. E. Milliken, L. L. Tornabene, A. S. McEwen, C. M. Weitz, S. W. Squyres, T. D. Glotch, and B. J. Thompson, HiRISE imaging of impact megabreccia and sub-meter aqueous strat in Holden Crater, Mars, Geology, 36, 195-198, 2008.

T. D. Glotch, G. R. Rossman, and O. Aharonson, Mid-infrared (5-100 μm) reflectance spectra and optical constants of phyllosilicate minerals,  Icarus, 192, 605-622, 2007.

T. D. Glotch, and A. D. Rogers, Evidence for aqueous deposition of hematite and sulfate-rich light-toned layered deposits in Aureum and Iani Chaos, Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 112, E06001, doi:10.1029/2006JE002863, 2007.

T. D. Glotch, J. L. Bandfield, P. R. Christensen, W. M. Calvin, S. M. McLennan, B. C. Clark, A. D. Rogers, and S. W. Squyres, The mineralogy of the light-toned outcrop rock at Meridiani Planum as seen by the Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer and Implications for its formation, J. Geophys. Res., 111, E12S03, doi:10.1029/2005JE002672, 2006.

T. D. Glotch, and J. L. Bandfield, Determination and interpretation of surface and atmospheric Mini-TES spectral endmembers at the Meridiani Planum landing site, J. Geophys. Res., 111, E12S06, doi:10.1029/2005JE002671, 2006.

T. D. Glotch, P. R. Christensen, and T. G. Sharp, Fresnel modeling of hematite crystal surfaces and application to Martian hematite spherules, Icarus, 181, 408-418, 2006.

S. M. McLennan, J. F. Bell III, W. M. Calvin, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, P. A. de Souza, J. Farmer, W. H. Farrand, D. A. Fike, R. Gellert, A. Ghosh, T. D. Glotch, J. P. Grotzinger, B. Hahn, K. E. Herkenhoff, J. A. Hurowitz, J. R. Johnson, S. S. Johnson, B. Joliff, G. Klingelhofer, A. H. Knoll, Z. Learner, M. C. Malin, H. Y. McSween Jr., J. Pocock, S. W. Ruff, L. A. Soderblom, S. W. Squyres, N. J. Tosca, W. A. Watters, M. B. Wyatt, and A. Yen, Provenance and diagenesis of the evaporate-bearing Burns formation, Meridiani Planum, Mars, EPSL, 240, 95-121, 2005.

T. D. Glotch and P. R. Christensen, Geologic and mineralogic mapping of Aram Chaos: Evidence for a water-rich history, J. Geophys. Res., 110, E09006, doi:10.1029/ 2004JE002389, 2005.

L. A. Soderblom, R. C. Anderson, R. E. Arvidson, J. F. Bell III, N. A. Cabrol, W. Calvin, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, T. Economou, B. L. Ehlmann, W. H. Farrand, D. Fike, R. Gellert, T. D. Glotch, M. P. Golombek, R. Greeley, J. P. Grotzinger, K. E. Herkenhoff, D. J. Jerolmack, J. R. Johnson, B. Jolliff, G. Klingelhöfer, 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 Jr., L. Richter, R. Rieder, D. Rodionov, C. Schröder, F. P. Seelos IV, J. M. Soderblom, S. W. Squyres, R. Sullivan, W. A. Watters, C. M. Weitz, M. B. Wyatt, A. Yen, J. Zipfel, Soils of Eagle Crater and Meridiani Planum at the Opportunity Rover Landing Site, Science, 306, 1723-1726, 2004.

P. R. Christensen, M.B. Wyatt, T. D. Glotch, A. D. Rogers, R. E. Arvidson, J. L. Bandfield, D.L. Blaney, C. Budney, W. M. Calvin, R. L. Fergason, T.G. Graff, V.E. Hamilton, A. Hayes, J..R. Johnson, A.T. Knudson, H. Y. McSween, Jr., G. L. Mehall, L. K. Mehall, J.E. Moersch, R.V. Morris, M. D. Smith, S.W. Squyres, S. W. Ruff, and M.J. Wolff, Mineralogy at Meridiani Planum from the Mini-TES Experiment on the Opportunity Rover, Science, 306, 1733-1739, 2004.

P. R. Christensen, S. W. Ruff, R. L. Fergason, A.T. Knudson, R. E. Arvidson, J. L. Bandfield, D.L. Blaney, C. Budney, W. M. Calvin, T. D. Glotch, M. P. Golombek, T.G. Graff, V.E. Hamilton, A. Hayes, J..R. Johnson, H. Y. McSween, Jr., G. L. Mehall, L. K. Mehall, J.E. Moersch, R.V. Morris, A. D. Rogers, M. D. Smith, S.W. Squyres, M.J. Wolff,  and M.B. Wyatt, Initial Results from the Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer Experiment at the Spirit Landing Site in Gusev Crater, Science, 305, 837-842, 2004.

T. D. Glotch, R. V. Morris, P. R. Christensen, and T. G. Sharp, Effect of Precursor Mineralogy on the Thermal Infrared Emission Spectra of Hematite: Application to Martian Hematite Mineralization, J. Geophys. Res., 109, E07003, doi:10.1029/ 2003JE002224, 2004. 

J. L. Bandfield, T. D. Glotch, and P. R. Christensen, Spectroscopic Identification of Carbonate Minerals in the Martian Dust, Science, 301, 1084-1087, 2003.

W. F. Bottke, S. G. Love, D. Tytell, and T. D. Glotch, Interpreting the Elliptical Crater Populations on Mars, Venus, and the Moon, Icarus, 145, 108-121, 2000.