Skip Navigation

Glenn Orton

Photo of Glenn Orton

Address:

4800 Oak Grove Drive
M/S 169-237

Pasadena, CA 91109

Phone:

818.354.2460

Fax:

818.393.4619

Curriculum Vitae:

Click here

Member of:

Planetary And Exoplanetary Atmospheres

Group Supervisor

Education

  • Sc.B. in Physics (with honors, cum Laude) - Brown University (1970)
  • Ph.D. in Planetary Science - California Institute of Technology (1975)

Professional Experience

  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech (1977-present)
    • Senior Research Scientist (1995-present)
    • Co-Investigator, Juno Mission
    • Co-Investigator, Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) Experiment
    • Interdisciplinary Scientist, Galileo Project
    • Co-Investigator, Galileo Orbiter Photometer-Polarimeter-Radiometer (PPR) Experiment
    • Co-Investigator, Galileo Probe Nephelometer Experiment
    • Co-Investigator, Galileo Probe Net Flux Radiometer Experiment
    • Chair (acting), Galileo Atmospheres Working Group
    • Associate Astronomer, Infrared Space Observatory Long-Wavelength Spectrometer (European Space Agency)
    • Associate Astronomer, Herschel Space Telescope (European Space Agency)
    • NASA Planetary Atmospheres Management Operations Working Group (1986-1990)
    • Chair, NASA Infrared Telescope Facility Shoemaker-Levy 9 Science Team (1994)
  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech - Resident Research Associate (NASA-NRC) (1975-1977)

Research Interests

  • Infrared astronomy
  • Planetary atmospheres
  • Infrared spectroscopy

Selected Awards

  • Fellow, American Geophysical Union (2020)
  • Honorary Fellow, Royal Astronomical Society (2019)
  • NASA Group Achievement Award, Juno Proposal Team & Juno Science Team (2012)
  • NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement (1997, 2015)

Selected Publications

  1. G. S. Orton, A. Antuñano, L. N. Fletcher, J. A. Sinclair, T. Momary, T. Fujiyoshi, P. Yanamandra-Fisher, P. T. Donnelly, J. J. Greco, A. V. Payne, K. A. Boydstun, L. E. Wakefield. 2023. Unexpected long-term variability in Jupiter’s tropospheric temperatures. Nature Astronomy. 7, 190-197. doi 10.1038/s41550-022-01839-0.
  2. G. S. Orton, F. Tabataba-Vakili, G. Eichstädt, J. Rogers, C. J. Hansen, T. W. Momary, A. P. Ingersoll, S. Brueshaber, M. H. Wong, A. A. Simon, L. N. Fletcher, M. Ravine, M. Caplinger, D. Smith, S. J. Bolton, S. M. Levin, J. A. Sinclair, C. Thepenier, H. Nicholson, A. Anthony. 2020. A survey of small-scale waves and wave-like phenomena in Jupiter’s atmosphere detected by JunoCam. J. Geophys. Res. doi 10.1029/2019JE006369.
  3. Adriani, A. Mora, G. Orton, and 30 other authors. 2018. Clusters of cyclones encircling Jupiter’s poles. Nature. 555, 216-219
  4. N. Fletcher, G. S. Orton, J. A. Sinclair, P. Donnelly, H. Melin, J. H. Rogers, T. K. Greathouse, Y. Kasaba, T. Fujiyoshi, T. M. Sato, J. Fernandes, P. G. J. Irwin, R. S. Giles. 2017. Thermal wave activity associated with the expansion of Jupiter’s North Equatorial Belt ahead of Juno’s arrival. Geophys. Res. Lett. 44, 7140-7148
  5. A. Sinclair, G. S. Orton, T. K. Greathouse, L. N. Fletcher, C. Tao, G. R. Gladstone, A. Adriani, W. Dunn, J. I. Moses, V. Hue, P. G. J. Irwin, J. Melin, R. S. Giles. 2017. Independent evolution of stratospheric temperatures in Jupiter’s northern and southern auroral regions from 2014 to 2016. Geophys. Res. Lett. 44, 5345-5354.
  6. Sánchez-Lavega, J. H. Rogers, G. S. Orton, E. García-Melendo, J. Legarreta, F. Cloas, J. L. Dauvergne, R. Hueso, J. F. Rojar, S. Pérerz-Hoyos, I. Mendikoa, P. ñurrigarro, J. M. Gomez-Forrellad, T. Momary, D. J. Hansen, G. Eichstädt, P. Miles, A. Wesley. 2017. A planetary-scale disturbance in the most intense Jovian atmospheric jet from JunoCam and ground-based observations. Geophys. Research Lett. 44, 4679-4686.
  7. G. S. Orton, L. N.  Fletcher, T. Encrenaz, C. Leyrat, H. G. Roe, T. Fujiyoshi, E. Pantin. 2015. Thermal imaging of Uranus: Upper-tropospheric temperatures one season after Voyager. Icarus. 260, 94-102.  10.1016/j.icarus.2015.07.004.
  8. G. S. Orton, J. I. Moses, L. N. Fletcher, A. Mainzer, D. Hines, H. Hammel, J. Martin-Torres, M. Burgdorf, C. Merlet, M. R. Line. 2014a. 2. Mid-Infrared spectroscopy of Uranus from the Spitzer Infrared Spectrometer: Determination of the mean composition of the upper troposphere and stratosphere. Icarus. 243, 471-493. doi 10.1016/j.icarus.2014.07.012 (arXiv: 1407.2118).
  9. G. S. Orton, L. N. Fletcher, J. I. Moses, A. Mainzer, D. Hines, H. Hammel, J. Martin-Torres, M. Burgdorf, C. Merlet, M. R. Line. 2014b. 1. Mid-Infrared spectroscopy of Uranus from the Spitzer Infrared Spectrometer: Determination of the mean temperature of the upper troposphere and stratosphere. Icarus. 243, 494-513. doi 10.1016/j.icarus.2014.07.010 (arXiv: 1407.2120).
  10. N. Fletcher, G. S. Orton, J. H. Rogers, A. A. Simon-Miller, I. de Pater, M. H. Wong, O. Mousis, P. G. J. Irwin, M. Jaquesson, P. A. Yanamandra-Fisher. 2011. Jovian haze variability during the 2009-2010 fade of the Southern Equatorial Belt. Icarus. 213, 564-580.
  11. N. Fletcher, B. D. Hessman, P. G. J. Irwin, K.H. Baines, T. W. Momary, A. Sanchez-Lavega, F. M. Flasar, R. P. Rad, G. S. Orton, A. Simon-Miller, R. Hueso, G. L. Bjoraker, A. Mamoutkine, T. del Rio-Gaztelurrutia, J. M. Gomez, R. J. Brown, B. Buratti, R. N. Clark, P. D. Nicholson, C. Sotin. 2011. Thermal structure and dynamics of Saturn's northern springtime disturbance. Science 332, 1413-1417.
  12. N. Fletcher, K.H. Baines, T.W. Momary, A. P. Showman, P.G.J. Irwin, G.S. Orton, M. Roos-Serote, C. Merlet. 2011. Saturn's tropospheric composition and clouds from Cassini/VIMS 4.6-5.1 µm nightside spectroscopy. Icarus 214, 510-533.
  13. Sánchez-Lavega, G. S. Orton, R. Hueso, S. Pérez-Hoyos, L. N. Fletcher, E. García-Melendo, J. M. Gomez-Forrellad,I. de Pater, M. Wong,H. B. Hammel, Yanamandra-Fisher, A. Simon-Miller, N. Barrado-Izagirre, F. Marchis, O. Mousis, J. L. Ortiz, J. García-Rojas, M. Cecconi, J. T. Clarke, K. Noll, S. Pedraz, A. Wesley, P. Kalas, N. McConnell, W. Golisch, D. Griep, P. Sears, E. Volquardsen,V. Reddy, M. Shara, R. Binzel, W. Grundy, J. Emery, A. Rivkin, C. Thomas, D. Trilling, K. Bjorkman, A. J. Burgasser, H. Campins, T. M. Sato, Y. Kasaba, J. Ziffer, R. Mirzoyan, and the IOPW team. 2011. Long-term evolution of the aerosol debris cloud produced by the 2009 impact on Jupiter. Icarus. 214, 462-476.
  14. Greathouse,M. Richter, J. Lacy, J. Moses, G. Orton, T. Encrenaz, H. Hammel, D. Jaffe, 2011. A spatially resolved high spectral resolution study of Neptune's stratosphere. Icarus. 214, 606-622.
  15. S. Orton, L. N. Fletcher, J. Liu, T. Schneider, P. A. Yanamandra-Fisher, I. de Pater, M. Edwards, T. R. Geballe, H. B. Hammel, T. Fujiyoshi, T. Encrenaz, E. Pantin, O. Mousis, T. Fuse. 2012. Recovery of Neptune's polar hot spot. Planetary & Space Sci. 61, 161-167.
  16. Li, X. Jiang, A. P. Ingersoll, A. D. Del Genio C. C. Porco, R. A. West, A. R. Vasavada, S. P. Ewald, B. J. Conrath, P. J. Gierasch, F. M. Flasar, A. A. Simon-Miller, C. A. Nixon, R. K. Achterberg, G. S. Orton, L. N. Fletcher, K. H. Baines. 2012. High-altitude equatorial jet changes on Saturn. Nature Geosci. 4, 750-752.
  17. G. J. Irwin, N. A. Teanby, G. R. Davis, L. N. Fletcher, G. S. Orton, S. B. Calcutt, D. Tice, and J. Hurley. 2012. Further seasonal changes in Uranus' cloud structure observed by Gemini-North and UKIRT. Icarus. 218, 47-55.
  18. N. Fletcher, B. E. Hesman, R. K. Achterberg, P. G. J. Irwin, G. Bjoraker, N. Gorius, J. Hurley, J Sinclair, G. S. Orton, J. Legarreta, E. Garcia-Melendo, A. Sanchez-Lavega, A. A. Simon-Miller, F. M. Flasar. 2012. The origin and evolution of Saturn's stratospheric vortex. Icarus. 221, 560-586.
  19. G. J. Irwin, C. de Bergh, R. Courtin, B. Bezard, N. A. Teanby, G. R. Davis, L. N. Fletcher, G. S. Orton, S. B. Calcutt, D. Tice, J. Hurley. 2012 The application of new methane line absorption data to Gemini-N/NIFS and KTNO/FTS observations of Uranus' near-infrared spectrum. Icarus 220, 369-382.
  20. Perez-Hoyos, J. F. Sanz-Requena, A. Sanchez-Lavega, M.Wong, H. B. Hammel, G. S. Orton, I. de Pater, A. A. Simon-Miller, J. T. Clarke and K. Noll. 2012 Vertical cloud structure of the 2009 Jupiter impact based on NST/WFC3 observations. Icarus. 221, 1061-1078.
  21. G. S. Orton, L. N. Fletcher, C. M. Lisse, P. W. Chodas, A. Cheng, P. A. Yanamandra-Fisher, K. H. Baines, B. M. Fisher, A. Wesley, S. Perez-Hoyos, I. de Pater, H. B. Hammel, M. L. Edwards, O. Mousis, F. Marchis, W. Golisch, A. Sanchez-Lavega, A. A. Simon-Miller, R. Hueso, T. W. Momary, Z. Greene, N. Reshetnikov, E. Otto, G. Villar, S. Lai, M. Wong. 2011. The Atmospheric influence, size and possible asteroidal nature of the July 2009 Jupiter impactor. Icarus. 211, 587-602.
  22. N. Fletcher, G. S. Orton, C. M. Lisse, M. L. Edwards, I. de Pater, P. A. Yanamandra-Fisher, B. M. Fisher, H. B. Hammel. 2011. The aftermath of the July 2009 impact on Jupiter: Ammonia, temperatures and particulates from Gemini thermal-IR spectroscopy. Icarus. 211, 568-586.
  23. L. N. Fletcher, G. S. Orton, J. H. Rogers, A. A. Simon-Miller, I. de Pater, M. H. Wong, O. Mousis, P. G. J. Irwin, M. Jaquesson, P. A. Yanamandra-Fisher. 2011. Jovian haze variability during the 2009-2010fade of the Southern Equatorial Belt. Icarus. 213, 564-580
  24. Sánchez-Lavega, G. S. Orton, R. Hueso, S. Pérez-Hoyos, L. N. Fletcher, E. García-Melendo, J. M. Gomez-Forrellad, I. de Pater, M. Wong, H. B. Hammel, Yanamandra-Fisher, A. Simon-Miller, N.Barrado-Izagirre, F. Marchis, O. Mousis, J. L. Ortiz, J. García-Rojas, M. Cecconi, J. T. Clarke, K. Noll, S. Pedraz, A. Wesley, P. Kalas, N. McConnell, W. Golisch, D. Griep, P. Sears, E. Volquardsen,V. Reddy, M. Shara, R. Binzel, W. Grundy, J. Emery, A. Rivkin, C. Thomas, D. Trilling, K. Bjorkman, A. J. Burgasser, H. Campins, T. M. Sato, Y. Kasaba, J. Ziffer, R. Mirzoyan, and the IOPW team. 2011. Long-term evolution of the aerosol debris cloud produced by the 2009 impact on Jupiter. Icarus. In press.
  25. Greathouse, M. Richter, J. Lacy, J. Moses, G. Orton, T. Encrenaz, H. Hammel, D. Jaffe, 2011. A spatially resolved high spectral resolution study of Neptune's stratosphere. Icarus. In press.
  26. N. Fletcher, B. D. Hessman, P. G. J. Irwin, K.H. Baines,T. W. Momary, A. Sanchez-Lavega, F. M. Flasar, R. P. Rad, G. S. Orton, A. Simon-Miller, R. Hueso, G. L. Bjoraker, A. Mamoutkine, T. del Rio-Gaztelurrutia, J. M. Gomez, R. J. Brown, B. Buratti, R. N. Clark, P. D.Nicholson, C. Sotin. 2011. Thermal structure and dynamics of Saturn's northern springtime disturbance. Science. In press. (published on-line in Science Express)
  27. N. Fletcher, K.H. Baines, T.W. Momary, A.P.Showman, P.G.J. Irwin, G.S. Orton, M. Roos-Serote, C. Merlet (2011), Saturn's tropospheric composition and clouds from Cassini/VIMS 4.6-5.1 µm nightside spectroscopy. Icarus. In press.
  28. G. S. Orton, L. N. Fletcher, J. Liu, T. Schneider, P. A. Yanamandra-Fisher, I. de Pater, M. Edwards, T. R. Geballe, H. B. Hammel, T. Fujiyoshi, T. Encrenaz, E. Pantin, O. Mousis, T. Fuse. 2011. Recovery of Neptune's polar hot spot. Planetary & Space Sci. In press.
  29. G. S. Orton, L. N. Fletcher, C. M. Lisse, P. W. Chodas, A. Cheng, P. A. Yanamandra-Fisher, K. H. Baines, B. M. Fisher, A. Wesley, S. Perez-Hoyos, I. de Pater, H. B. Hammel, M. L. Edwards, O. Mousis, F. Marchis, W. Golisch, A. Sanchez-Lavega, A. A. Simon-Miller, R. Hueso, T. W. Momary, Z. Greene, N. Reshetnikov, E. Otto, G. Villar, S. Lai, M. Wong. 2011. The Atmospheric Influence, Size and Asteroidal Nature of the July 2009 Jupiter Impactor. Icarus 211,587-602.
  30. Hueso, A. Wesley, C. Go, S. Perez-Hoyos, M. H. Wong, L. N. Fletcher, A. Sanchez-Lavega, M. B. E. Boslough, I de Pater, G. S. Orton, A. A. Simon-Miller, S. G. Djorgovski, M. L. Edwards, H. B. Hammel, J. T. Clarke, K. S. Noll, P. A. Yanamandra-Fisher. 2010. First Earth-based detection of asuperbolide on Jupiter. Astrophys. J.Lett.721, L129-L133.
  31. M. Swinyard, P. Hartogh, S. Sidher, T. Fulton, E. Lellouch, C. Jarchow, M. J. Griffin, R. Moreno, H. Sagawa, G. Portyankina, M. Blecka, M. Banazkeiwicz, D. Bockelee-Morvan, J. Crovisier, T. Encrenaz, M. Kueppers, L. Lara, D. Lis, A. Medyedev, M. Rengel, S. Szutowica, B. .Bandenbussche, F. Bensch, E. Bergin, F. Billebaud, N. Biver, G. Black, J. Blommaert, M. de Val-Borro, J. Cernicharo, T. Cavalie, R. Courtin, G. Davis, L. Cedin, P. Encrenaz, T. de Graauw, D. Jehin M. Kidger, S. Leeks, G. Orton, D. Naylor, R. Schider, D. Steam, N. Thomas, E. Verdugo, C. Waelkens, H. Walker. 2010. The Herschel-SPIRE submillimeter spectrum of Mars. Astron & Astrophys. 518, L151.
  32. N. Fletcher, G. S. Orton, I de Pater, and O. Mousis. 2010. Jupiter's stratospheric hydrocarbons and temperatures after the July 2009 impact from VLT infrared spectroscopy. Astron. & Astrophys. 524, A46.
  33. Sánchez-Lavega, G. S. Orton, R. Hueso, S. Pérez-Hoyos, L. N. Fletcher, E. García-Melendo, J. M. Gomez-Forrellad, I. de Pater, M. Wong, H. B. Hammel, Yanamandra-Fisher, A. Simon-Miller, N.Barrado-Izagirre, F. Marchis, O. Mousis, J. L. Ortiz, J. García-Rojas, M. Cecconi, J. T. Clarke, K. Noll, S. Pedraz, A. Wesley, P. Kalas, N. McConnell, W. Golisch, D. Griep, P. Sears, E. Volquardsen,V. Reddy, M. Shara, R. Binzel, W. Grundy, J. Emery, A. Rivkin, C. Thomas, D. Trilling, K. Bjorkman, A. J. Burgasser, H. Campins, T. M. Sato, Y. Kasaba, J. Ziffer, R. Mirzoyan, and the IOPW team. 2010 Long-term evolution of the aerosol debris cloud produced by the 2009 impact on Jupiter. Icarus. Submitted.
  34. N. Fletcher, G. S. Orton, A. A. Simon-Miller, I. de Pater, M. Wong, O. Mousis, P. G. J. Irwin. 2010 Jovian haze variability during the 2009-2010 fade of the Southern Equatorial Belt. Icarus. Submitted.
  35. B. Hammel, M. H. Wong, J. T. Clarke, I. de Pater, L. N. Fletcher, R. Hueso, K. Noll, G. S. Orton, S. Pérez-Hoyos, A. Sánchez-Lavega, A. A. Simon-Miller, P.A. Yanamandra-fisher. 2010. Jupiter after the 2009 impact: Hubble Space Telescope imaging of the impact-generated debris and its temporal evolution. Astrophys. J. Lett. 715, L150-L154.
  36. Lellouch, P. Hartogh, H. Feuchtgruber, B. Vandenbussche, T. de Graauw, R. Moreno, C. Jarchow, T. Cavalie, G. Orton, M. Banaszkiewicz, M.I. Blecka, D. Bockelee-Morvan, J. Crovisier, T. Encrenaz, T. Fulton, M. Kuppers, L.M. Lara, D.C. Lis, A.S. Medvedev, M. Rengel, H. Sagawa, B. Swinyard, S. Szutowicz, F. Bensch, E. Bergin, F. Billebaud, N. Biver, G.A. Blake, J.A.D.L. Blommaert, J. Cernicharo, R. Courtin, G.R. Davis, L. Decin, P. Encrenaz, A. Gonzalez, E. Jehin, M. Kidger, D. Naylor, G. Portyankina, R. Schieder, S. Sidher, N. Thomas, M. de Val-Borro, E. Verdugo, C. Waelken, H. Walker, H. Aarts, C. Comito, J.H. Kawamura, A. Maestrini, T. Peacocke, R. Teipen, T. Tils, K. Wildeman. 2010. First results of Herschel/PACS observations of Neptune. Astron & Astrophys. 518, L152.
  37. J. Burgdorf, D. P. Cruikshank, C. M. Dalle Ore, T. Sekiguchi, R. Nakamure, G. Orton, E. Quirico, B. Schmitt. 2010. Detection of HCN ice on Triton. Astrophys. J. Lett. In press.
  38. Burrows and G. Orton. 2010. Theory of giant planet atmospheres and spectra. In Extrasolar Planets (S. Seager, Ed.) 696, 1348-1354.
  39. de Pater, L. Fletcher, S. Perez-Hoyos, H. Hammel, G. Orton, M. H. Wong, S. Luszcz-Cook, A. Sánchez-Lavega, M. Boslough. 2010 A multi-wavelength study of the 2009 impact on Jupiter: Comparison of high-resolution images from Gemini, Keck and HST. Icarus, 210, 722-741.
  40. Li, B. J. Conrath, P. J. Gierasch, R. K. Achterberg, C. A. Nixon,A. A. Simon-Miller, F. M. Flasar, D. Banfield, K. H. Baines, R. A. West, A. R. Vasavada, A. A. Mamoutkine, M. E. Segura, G. L. Bjoraker, S. Orton, L. N. Fletcher, P. G. J. Irwin, P. L. Read, T. Fouchet, S. Guerlet. 2010. Saturn's emitted power. J. Geophys. Res.115, E11002.
  41. N. Fletcher, G. S. Orton, N. A. Teanby, P. G. J. Irwin, G. L. Bjoraker. 2009. Methane and its isotopologues on Saturn from Cassini/CIRS observations. Icarus. 199, 351-367.
  42. N. Fletcher, G. S. Orton, P. Yanamandra-Fisher, B. M. Fisher, P. D. Parrish, P. G. J. Irwin. 2009. Retrieval of atmospheric variables on the gas giants from ground-based mid-infrared imaging. Icarus. 200, 154-175.
  43. N. Fletcher, G. S. Orton, N. A. Teanby, P. G. J. Irwin. 2009. Phosphine on Jupiter and Saturn from Cassini/CIRS. Icarus. 202, 543-564.
  44. Mousis, U. Marboeuf, J. I. Lunine, Y. Alibert, L. N. Fletcher, G. S. Orton, P. Pauzat, Y. Ellinger. 2009. Determination of the minimum masses of heavy elements in the envelopes of Jupiter and Saturn. Astrophys. J. 696, 1348-1354..
  45. G. S. Orton. 2009. Ground-based support for giant planet missions. Earth, Moon & Planets. 105, 143-152.
  46. G. S. Orton, K. H. Baines, D. Cruikshank, J. N. Cuzzi, S. Krimigis, S. Miller and E. Lellouch. 2009. Review of knowledge prior to the Cassini-Huygens mission. In Saturn After Cassini-Huygens (R. Brown, M. Dougherty and S. Krimigis, Eds.) Springer, Dordrecht.
  47. J. Friedson, R. B. West, E. H. Wilson, F. Oyafuso, and G. S. Orton. 2009 A global climate model of Titan's atmosphere and surface. Planet. & Space Sci. 57, 1931-1949.
  48. A. F. Cheng, A. A. Simon-Miller, H. A. Weaver, K. J. Baines, G. S. Orton, P. A. Yanamandra-Fisher, O. Mousis, E. Pantin, L. Vanzi, L. H. fletcher, J. R. Spencer, and S. A. Stern. 2008. Structure and dynamics of a new giant storm on Jupiter. Astron. J. 135, 2446-2452