Christopher Parkinson

Senior Research Scientist
Hollywood, CA

Education

Ph.D., Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto
Thesis: Photochemistry and radiative transfer studies in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn (http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~cdp/Thesis)
M.Sc., Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto
Thesis: On approximating positive solutions to some nonlinear integro-differential equations
H.B.Sc., Science, York University, Toronto
Research Interests:
  • Radiative transfer, 1-D and GCM photochemistry and dynmical modeling of planetary atmospheres
  • Microphysical cloud modeling in planetary atmospheres and Enceladus' plume
  • Particle precipitation into planetary atmospheres
  • Hydrodynamic escape from extrasolar gas giant planetary atmospheres
  • Astrobiology
  • Cassini: Jovian and Saturnian He 584A airglow data analysis and modeling using Cassini UVIS data
  • Enhanced chemistry and transport in the polar mesosphere of Jupiter and mesosphere of Saturn using evidence from the helium airglow observed by Cassini
  • Enceladus: Cassini observations and implications for the search for life; quantifying the hydrological cycle, chemical redox cycle and analysis of Cassini UVIS plume data
  • Venus Express: Venus Express observations and photochemical modeling of the Venusian atmosphere from the surface to the top of the stratosphere; VTGCM modelling.
  • Photochemistry in extrasolar gas giant planetary atmospheres
  • Astrobiology and microphysical cloud modeling at JPL
  • Hydrogen and Oxygen hot ion precipitation in the Martian atmosphere
  • Hydrogen and Oxygen hot ion precipitation in Venus' atmosphere
  • Hot ion precipitation in the Jovian and Saturnian upper atmospheres
  • Hydrodynamic escape from planetary atmospheres, with emphasis on extrasolar gas giants, Titan, and the early Earth, Mars and Venus
  • Photochemistry in extrasolar gas giant planetary atmospheres
  • Investigation of evolution 13C in the Martian atmosphere
  • Solar system D/H ratio
Professional Service:
  • American Astronomical Society (AAS), Division of Planetary Sciences (DPS)
  • American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Awards:
    2019-present Elected Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
    2012-2019 Cassini Participating Scientist (NASA)
    2017 NASA Group Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Cassini UVIS Science Team
    2014-2017 Venus Express Participating Scientist
    2016 European Space Agency Outstanding Achievement Award for excellent contributions to the Venus Express Mission
    2016-2017 Kenneth M. Reese Outstanding Research Scientist Award Recipient, University of Michigan, College of Engineering
    2018 Visiting Scientist, Caltech
    2012-2014 NPP Senior Fellow, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
    2012 Invited Professor (Jan to Mar), Laboratoire de Planétologie de Grenoble, Université Grenoble/Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France
    2010 Invited Professor (May to July), Laboratoire de Planétologie de Grenoble, Université Grenoble/Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France
    2005 Poste Rouge (May to July), Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, Observatoire de Paris
    2001 Bourse Postdoctorale Chateaubriand, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, Observatoire de Paris