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Scott McLennan
Scott M. McLennan Professor Geosciences College of Arts and Sciences

Contact Information

252 Earth and Space Sciences Bl

Stony Brook, 11794

631/632-8194

Expertise

sedimentary rock planetary sciences Mars life on Mars water on Mars Mars missions

Biography

Using the chemical composition of sedimentary rock and laboratory experiments that simulate a variety of sedimentary processes, Scott McLennan traces the evolution of the surfaces of both Earth and Mars. He has been a member of the science teams for the Mars rover and orbital missions, and he currently evaluates the chemical and mineralogical composition of Martian surface materials for NASA based on the return data from these missions.

Education

  • PhD, Australian National University
  • MSc, University of Western Ontario
  • BSc(Hon), University of Western Ontario

Research Grants

Award Start End Sponsor Type Amount Status
Surficial processes on Mars: An Experiemental Approach 2001-03-01T00:00:00 2003-05-31T00:00:00 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Federal 120000 Closed
Global Perspective of Surficial Processes on Mars using Mars Odyssey Gamma Ray Spectrometer 2006-04-01T00:00:00 2009-03-29T00:00:00 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Nonfederal 126200 Closed
Experimental Constraints on Trace Element Behavior During Surficial Processes on Mars 2007-08-01T00:00:00 2011-07-31T00:00:00 NASA Washington Federal 284511 Closed
THE ROLE OF TRACE PHOSPHATIC PHASES IN SILICICLASTIC DIAGENESIS 1997-07-01T00:00:00 2000-08-31T00:00:00 American Chemical Society Nonfederal 50000 Closed
Evaporative Processes on Mars: Constraints form Experiments and Modeling 2006-05-10T00:00:00 2008-05-09T00:00:00 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Federal 30000 Closed
Museum of Long Island Natural Sciences - 2002 - 2003 ZBGA Program Grant 2002-04-01T00:00:00 2003-03-31T00:00:00 NYS Office of Parks Rec & Historic Preservation Nonfederal 5740 Closed
Sedimentary geochemistry of samples from the Pathfinder 1999-03-01T00:00:00 2001-08-31T00:00:00 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Federal 59500 Closed
Crust-Mantle Evolution on Mars: Integrating the Mission Data 2007-07-01T00:00:00 2011-06-30T00:00:00 NASA Lunar and Planetary Institute Federal 231205 Closed
Chemically Striking Regions on Mars 2010-08-04T00:00:00 2011-08-31T00:00:00 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Federal 233939 Closed
Sedimentary Geochemistry on Mars 2001-03-01T00:00:00 2004-08-31T00:00:00 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Federal 84000 Closed
Surfical Processes on Mars: An Experimental Approach 2003-03-03T00:00:00 2007-02-28T00:00:00 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Federal 237000 Closed
Crust Mantle Evolution on Mars 2004-09-01T00:00:00 2007-08-31T00:00:00 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Federal 119743 Closed
Global Prespective on Surficial Processes on Mars Using Mars Odyssey Gamma Ray Spectrometer 2009-04-01T00:00:00 2009-09-30T00:00:00 University of Arizona Nonfederal 19996 Closed
Fixed Price Balance and Institutional Allowance Account for Department of Geosciences 2003-04-01T00:00:00 2007-03-31T00:00:00 Multiple Sponsors Nonfederal 1676.97 Closed
FIXED PRICE BALANCE AND INSTITUTIONAL ALLOWANCE ACCOUNT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCES 1985-04-01T00:00:00 2003-03-31T00:00:00 Multiple Sponsors Nonfederal 7335.31 Closed
Sedimentary Petrology 2002-06-01T00:00:00 2015-09-27T00:00:00 Jpl Caltech Nonfederal 747739 Closed
NRA: Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science - Roses 2010: Experimental Approaches to Evaluating the Sedimentary Geochemistry of Halogens on Mars 2011-07-13T00:00:00 2015-07-12T00:00:00 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Federal 282363 Closed
S & F McLENNAN DCP LAB 1999-10-01T00:00:00 2012-10-31T00:00:00 Campus SF Accounts Multiple Sponsors Nonsponsored 18811.35 Closed
Geochemical Investigations at Meridiani Planum and Gusev Crater 2011-07-01T00:00:00 2017-06-30T00:00:00 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Federal 378002 Approved
Sedimentary Petrology at the Mars Science Laboratory Site 2012-05-15T00:00:00 2019-10-31T00:00:00 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Nonfederal 786606 Approved
Geochemical Investigations at Endeavour Crater with the Opportunity Rover-MER Mission FY 2016 2015-09-28T00:00:00 2018-09-30T00:00:00 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Nonfederal 55000 Approved
Mars 2020 SuperCAM 2016-03-29T00:00:00 2017-12-31T00:00:00 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Nonfederal 14630 Approved

Publications

  1. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Physicochemical properties of concentrated Martian surface waters 2011 116
  2. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Opportunity Mars Rover mission: Overview and selected results from Purgatory ripple to traverses to Endeavour crater 2011 116
  3. Author Article Geophysical Research Letters Martian surface heat production and crustal heat flow from Mars Odyssey Gamma-Ray spectrometry 2011 38 14
  4. Author Article Astrobiology Mars Sedimentary Geology: Key Concepts and Outstanding Questions 2011 11 1 77 - 87
  5. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Regional and grain size influences on the geochemistry of soil at Gusev crater, Mars 2010 115
  6. Author Article Geophysical Research Letters K and Cl concentrations on the Martian surface determined by the Mars Odyssey Gamma Ray Spectrometer: Implications for bulk halogen abundances in Mars 2010 37 12
  7. Author Article Elements Sulfur on Mars 2010 6 2 107 - 112
  8. Author Book 2009 1
  9. Author Article Nature Asteroids and andesites 2009 459 7246
  10. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Chemically striking regions on Mars and Stealth revisited 2009 114
  11. Author Article American Mineralogist Humidity-induced phase transitions of ferric sulfate minerals studied by in situ and ex situ X-ray diffraction 2009 94 41590 1629 - 1637
  12. Author Article Science Exploration of Victoria Crater by the Mars Rover Opportunity 2009 324 5930 1058 - 1061
  13. Author Article Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta Experimental constraints on the evaporation of partially oxidized acid-sulfate waters at the martian surface 2009 73 4 1205 - 1222
  14. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Veneers, rinds, and fracture fills: Relatively late alteration of sedimentary rocks at Meridiani Planum, Mars 2008 113
  15. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Spirit Mars Rover Mission to the Columbia Hills, Gusev Crater: Mission overview and selected results from the Cumberland Ridge to Home Plate 2008 113
  16. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Light-toned salty soils and coexisting Si-rich species discovered by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit in Columbia Hills 2008 113
  17. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Hematite spherules at Meridiani: Results from MI, Mini-TES, and Pancam 2008 113
  18. Author Article Science Water Activity and the Challenge for Life on Early Mars 2008 320 5880 1204 - 1207
  19. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Fe oxidation processes at Meridiani Planum and implications for secondary Fe mineralogy on Mars 2008 113
  20. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Surface processes recorded by rocks and soils on Meridiani Planum, Mars: Microscopic Imager observations during Opportunity's first three extended missions 2008 113
  21. Author Article Science Detection of Silica-Rich Deposits on Mars 2008 320 5879 1063 - 1067
  22. Author Article Earth and Planetary Science Letters A  3.5 Ga record of water-limited, acidic weathering conditions on Mars 2007 260 3 432 - 443
  23. Author Article Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta Application of the Pitzer ion interaction model to isopiestic data for the Fe2(SO4)3-H2SO4-H2O system at 298.15 and 323.15 K 2007 71 11 2680 - 2698
  24. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Variations in K/Th on Mars 2007 112
  25. Author Article Earth and Planetary Science Letters Production of hydrogen peroxide in Martian and lunar soils 2007 255 1 41 - 52
  26. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Mars Odyssey Gamma Ray Spectrometer elemental abundances and apparent relative surface age: Implications for Martian crustal evolution 2007 112
  27. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Visible and near-infrared multispectral analysis of rocks at Meridiani Planum, Mars, by the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity 2007 112
  28. Author Article Elements Evidence for Water at Meridiani 2006 2 3 163 - 167
  29. Author Article Nature Planetary science: Bedrock formation at Meridiani Planum 2006 443 7107
  30. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Mixing relationships and the effects of secondary alteration in the Wishstone and Watchtower Classes of Husband Hill, Gusev Crater, Mars 2006 111
  31. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Mineralogy of the light-toned outcrop at Meridiani Planum as seen by the Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer and implications for its formation 2006 111
  32. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Overview of the Opportunity Mars Exploration Rover Mission to Meridiani Planum: Eagle Crater to Purgatory Ripple 2006 111
  33. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Nickel on Mars: Constraints on meteoritic material at the surface 2006 111
  34. Author Article Science Two Years at Meridiani Planum: Results from the Opportunity Rover 2006 313 5792 1403 - 1407
  35. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Overview of the Spirit Mars Exploration Rover Mission to Gusev Crater: Landing site to Backstay Rock in the Columbia Hills 2006 111
  36. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Gusev crater: Wind-related features and processes observed by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit 2006 111
  37. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Characterization and petrologic interpretation of olivine-rich basalts at Gusev Crater, Mars 2006 111
  38. Author Article Earth and Planetary Science Letters Chemical divides and evaporite assemblages on Mars 2006 241 1 21 - 31
  39. Author Article Geology Sedimentary textures formed by aqueous processes, Erebus crater, Meridiani Planum, Mars 2006 34 12 1085
  40. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research In situ and experimental evidence for acidic weathering of rocks and soils on Mars 2006 111
  41. Author Article Earth and Planetary Science Letters Stratigraphy and sedimentology of a dry to wet eolian depositional system, Burns formation, Meridiani Planum, Mars 2005 240 1 11 - 72
  42. Author Article The Journal of Geology Geochemistry of Cambro-Ordovician Sedimentary Rocks of the Northeastern United States: Changes in Sediment Sources at the Onset of Taconian Orogenesis 2005 113 5 571 - 587
  43. Author Article Scientific American Sp The Evolution of Continental Crust 2005 15 2 44 - 49
  44. Author Article Earth and Planetary Science Letters Chemistry and mineralogy of outcrops at Meridiani Planum 2005 240 1 73 - 94
  45. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Experimental epithermal alteration of synthetic Los Angeles meteorite: Implications for the origin of Martian soils and identification of hydrothermal sites on Mars 2005 110
  46. Author Article Nature An integrated view of the chemistry and mineralogy of martian soils 2005 436 7047 49 - 54
  47. Author Article Earth and Planetary Science Letters An astrobiological perspective on Meridiani Planum 2005 240 1 179 - 189
  48. Author Article Earth and Planetary Science Letters Provenance and diagenesis of the evaporite-bearing Burns formation, Meridiani Planum, Mars 2005 240 1 95 - 121
  49. Author Article Earth and Planetary Science Letters Geochemical modeling of evaporation processes on Mars: Insight from the sedimentary record at Meridiani Planum 2005 240 1 122 - 148
  50. Author Article Nature Water alteration of rocks and soils on Mars at the Spirit rover site in Gusev crater 2005 436 7047 66 - 69
  51. Author Article Sedimentology Scale and timing of Rare Earth Element redistribution in the Taconian foreland of New England 2004 51 4 885 - 897
  52. Author Article Journal of Geophysical Research Acid-sulfate weathering of synthetic Martian basalt: The acid fog model revisited 2004 109
  53. Author Article Science Textures of the Soils and Rocks at Gusev Crater from Spirit's Microscopic Imager 2004 305 5685 824 - 826
  54. Author Article Science Pancam Multispectral Imaging Results from the Opportunity Rover at Meridiani Planum 2004 306 5702 1703 - 1709
  55. Author Article Science Wind-Related Processes Detected by the Spirit Rover at Gusev Crater, Mars 2004 305 5685 810 - 813
  56. Author Article Science The Spirit Rover's Athena Science Investigation at Gusev Crater, Mars 2004 305 5685 794 - 799
  57. Author Article Science The Opportunity Rover's Athena Science Investigation at Meridiani Planum, Mars 2004 306 5702 1698 - 1703
  58. Author Article Science Evidence from Opportunity's Microscopic Imager for Water on Meridiani Planum 2004 306 5702 1727 - 1730
  59. Author Article Science In Situ Evidence for an Ancient Aqueous Environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars 2004 306 5702 1709 - 1714
  60. Author Article Science Pancam Multispectral Imaging Results from the Spirit Rover at Gusev Crater 2004 305 5685 800 - 806
  61. Author Article Science Basaltic Rocks Analyzed by the Spirit Rover in Gusev Crater 2004 305 5685 842 - 845
  62. Author Article Science Soils of Eagle Crater and Meridiani Planum at the Opportunity Rover Landing Site 2004 306 5702 1723 - 1726

Courses

Term Role Course ID Description
Spring 2018 Primary Instructor GEO 106 Planetary Geology
Spring 2017 Primary Instructor GEO 103 Earth Through Time
Spring 2017 Primary Instructor GEO 113 Historical Geology Laboratory
Spring 2017 Primary Instructor GEO 475 Undergrad Teachng Practicum I
Spring 2017 Primary Instructor GEO 600 Practicum in Teaching
Fall 2017 Primary Instructor GEO 103 Earth Through Time
Fall 2017 Primary Instructor GEO 113 Historical Geology Laboratory
Spring 2016 Primary Instructor GEO 103 Earth Through Time
Spring 2016 Primary Instructor GEO 113 Historical Geology Laboratory
Spring 2016 Primary Instructor GEO 600 Practicum in Teaching
Fall 2016 Primary Instructor GEO 604 Topics in Planetary Science
Spring 2015 Primary Instructor GEO 533 Geochemistry of the Terrestria
Fall 2015 Primary Instructor GEO 403 Sedimentation and Stratigraphy
Fall 2015 Primary Instructor GEO 403 Sedimentation and Stratigraphy
Fall 2015 Primary Instructor GEO 543 Stratigraphy
Fall 2015 Primary Instructor GEO 543 Stratigraphy
Fall 2015 Primary Instructor GEO 600 Practicum in Teaching
Spring 2014 Primary Instructor GEO 106 Planetary Geology
Spring 2014 Primary Instructor GEO 487 Senior Research in Geology
Spring 2014 Primary Instructor GEO 699 Dissertation Resrch on Campus
Summer 2014 Primary Instructor GEO 487 Senior Research in Geology
Fall 2014 Primary Instructor GEO 403 Sedimentation and Stratigraphy
Fall 2014 Primary Instructor GEO 403 Sedimentation and Stratigraphy
Fall 2014 Primary Instructor GEO 487 Senior Research in Geology
Fall 2014 Primary Instructor GEO 600 Practicum in Teaching
Fall 2013 Primary Instructor GEO 311 Geoscience and Global Concerns
Fall 2013 Primary Instructor GEO 487 Senior Research in Geology
Fall 2013 Primary Instructor GEO 699 Dissertation Resrch on Campus

Honors

Type Description Year
Award Mary B. Ansari Best Reference Work Award (for Planetary Crusts: Their Composition, Origin and Evolution), Geoscience Information Society (GSIS)
Fellowship Fellow of the American Geophysical Union
Fellowship Geochemistry Fellow of the Geochemical Society and the European Association for Geochemistry

Scholarly Activities

Activity Title Date
Presentation/Paper at a conference "Constraints on the age, composition and size of the Martian sedimentary mass" 43rd Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf., Abst. #1869, The Woodlands, TX, 19-23 March. 2012-08
Presentation/Paper at a conference Invited Paper: "Planning for Mars sample return: Results from the MEPAG Mars Sample Return End-to-End International Science Analysis Group (E2E-iSAG" Abstract P32B-04presented at 2011 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 5-9 Dec. 2011-12
Presentation/Paper at a conference "The Martian sedimentary record: Constraints on its composition, age and size" Intl. Conf. Exploring Mars Habitability Prog. & Abst., p. 33. Lisbon, 13-15 June. 2011-08
Workshop "Final Report of the Mars Sample Return (MSR)E2E-iSAG" Presentation to Mars Exploration Program Advisory Group (MEPAG), Lisbon 2011-08
Presentation/Paper at a conference "Relationships between the composition of planetary crusts and their sedimentary records" 2011 Goldschmidt Conf., 14-19 Aug., Prague, Czech Republic, Mineral. Mag., 75, 1443. 2011
Workshop Invited Presentation: "Martian Crust: Composition and Evolution" Presentation to ISSI-Europlanets Workshop on "Quantifying the Martian Geochemical Reservoirs", Bern, Switzerland 2011
Presentation/Paper at a conference "Proposed Mars Sample Return (MSR) E2E-iSAG: Phase I Analysis" Presentation to AGU Town Hall, San Francisco CA on behalf of NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return Science Analysis Group 2010-12
Presentation/Paper at a conference McLennan, S. M. (2010) "Nature and composition of planetary surficial deposits and their relationship to planetary crusts". Abstract P51A-01 presented at 2010 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 13-17 Dec. 2010-12
Presentation/Paper at another Univ. Invited Lecture: "The Sedimentary Rock Cycle on Mars: A Geochemical Perspective". McGill University, Montreal, Canada 2010-12
Other Proposed 2018 Mars Astrobiology Explorer-Cacher (MAX-C) Mission. Presentation on behalf of MEPAG Mid-range Rover Science Analysis Group to the Mars Panel of the NAS Planetary Decadal Survey. Arizona State Univ., Phoenix, AZ. 2010-09-10
Workshop "Mars Sample Return (MSR)E2E-iSAG: Introduction and Initial Input" Presentation to Mars Exploration Program Advisory Group (MEPAG) Pasadena CA on behalf of NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return Science Analysis Group 2010-09
Presentation/Paper at a conference McLennan, S. M., Boynton, W. V., Karunatillake, S., Hahn, B. C., Taylor, G. J. and the Mars Odyssey GRS Team (2010) Distribution of sulfur on the surface of Mars determined by the 2001 Mars Odyssey Gamma-ray spectrometer. In Lunar Planet. Sci. XLI, Abst. #2174, The Lunar & Planetary Institute, Houston (CD-ROM). 2010-08
Workshop McLennan, S. M. (2010) Provenance of the Burns Formation, Mars. Mars Exploration Rover Science Team Meeting, 25-26 May, 2010, Pasadena, CA. 2010-08
Presentation/Paper at another Univ. McLennan, S. M. (2010) The exploration of Mars, Recent findings and future prospects. Hofstra University. 2010
Presentation/Paper at a conference McLennan, S. M. (2010) Geochemical perspective of the Martian sedimentary rock cycle. First International Conference on Mars Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, El Paso, TX. 2010
Presentation/Paper at a conference McLennan, S. M., Boynton, W. V., Hahn, B. C., Karunatillake, S. and Taylor, G. J. (2009) Sulfur Distribution on the Martian Surface Determined by Mars Odyssey Gamma Ray Spectroscopy. EOS Trans. AGU, 90(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract P12A-04. 2009-12

Professional Service

Service Title Date
Other Member, Geochemical Society Publication Advisory Committee 2011 - 2012
Other Member, NASA – ESA International Mars Landing Site Steering Committee 2011 - 2012
Review Boards - Agency, Institute, Gov. Co-Chair, NASA-ESA MEPAG Mars Sample Return End-to-End International Science Analysis Group (MSR E2E-iSAG), August, 2010 – December, 2011 2011 - 2012
Review Boards - Agency, Institute, Gov. Panel Chief, “Mars Data Analysis Program”, NASA, January, 2012 2011 - 2012
Other Co-convener of Session “The New Mars: Geochemistry of a Neighbor Planet”, 2010 Goldschmidt Conference, June 13-18, 2010, Knoxville, TN 2010 - 2011
Review Boards - Agency, Institute, Gov. Co-Chair, NASA-ESA MEPAG Mars Sample Return End-to-End International Science Analysis Group (MSR E2E-iSAG), August, 2010 – June, 2011 2010 - 2011
Other Member of the NASA MEPAG Mars Mid-Range Rover Science Analysis Group (MEPAG MRR-SAG), April – November, 2009. 2009 - 2010
Other Member, Scientific Organizing Committee, “First International Conference on Mars Sedimentology and Stratigraphy”, 19-23 April, 2010, El Paso, TX and Carlsbad, NM. 2009 - 2010
Review Boards - Agency, Institute, Gov. Review Panel; Low Temperature Geochemistry Group Chief, “Mars Fundamental Science Program”, NASA, Oct. 12-16, 2009. 2009 - 2010

University Service

Service Title Date
College/University Committee School of Professional Development Curriculum Committee 2011 - 2012
Departmental Committee Chair of Department of Geosciences Shops Committee 2011 - 2012
College/University Committee School of Professional Development Curriculum Committee 2010 - 2011
College/University Committee Search Committee for Dept. of Geosciences Chair 2010 - 2011
Community Activity "Returning Samples from Mars" Presentation to SUSB Geology Open Night, 19 Nov., 2010. 2010 - 2011
Departmental Committee Chair of Department of Geosciences Shops Committee 2010 - 2011
Departmental Committee Geosciences Faculty Search Committee 2010 - 2011
College/University Committee SPD Curriculum Committee (Member) 2009 - 2010
Departmental Committee Dept. of Geosciences Assistant to the Chair Search Committee (Member) 2009 - 2010
Departmental Committee Dept. of Geosciences Shops Committee (Chair) 2009 - 2010

News Highlights

May 4, 2012 Mars rover sees evidence of ancient water United Press International Read Article July 1, 2005 The Evolution of Continental Crust Scientific American Read Article June 22, 2004 Mars' Round, Smooth Stones Have a Counterpart in Utah The New York Times Read Article March 10, 2016 Mars' water appears to have been too salty to support life Science Codex Read Article
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