World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
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Earth Science
USA
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Earth Science

D-Index
93
Citations
33043
World Ranking
215
National Ranking
110

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Earth Science in United States Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Earth Science in United States Leader Award

Overview

Douglas W. Ming is affiliated with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the United States. Their research focuses primarily on planetary science and exploration, with a strong emphasis on geology and paleoclimatology, space science, and the study of extraterrestrial environments.

Their scholarly work spans the fields of physics and astronomy, as well as earth and planetary sciences, with a notable subfield emphasis on astronomy and astrophysics, atmospheric science, aerospace engineering, paleontology, and geochemistry and petrology. This multidisciplinary approach reflects the complex nature of studying planetary bodies and their histories.

Douglas W. Ming has contributed to numerous publications over the years, with frequent appearances in several scientific journals and conferences. The most common publication venues include:

  • Journal of Geophysical Research Planets
  • Minerals
  • Abstracts with programs - Geological Society of America
  • Icarus
  • Goldschmidt2022 abstracts

Their recent papers illustrate a continued focus on Mars geology, sedimentology, and mineralogy, including investigations into sedimentary rocks and eolian processes, mineralogy of specific Martian terrains, and the influence of brine on clay mineral destruction. Selected recent papers include:

  • Mineralogy and geochemistry of sedimentary rocks and eolian sediments in Gale crater, Mars: A review after six Earth years of exploration with Curiosity, 2020, Geochemistry
  • Mineralogy of Vera Rubin Ridge From the Mars Science Laboratory CheMin Instrument, 2020, Journal of Geophysical Research Planets
  • Brine-driven destruction of clay minerals in Gale crater, Mars, 2021, Science
  • Mars Science Laboratory CheMin Data From the Glen Torridon Region and the Significance of Lake-Groundwater Interactions in Interpreting Mineralogy and Sedimentary History, 2022, Journal of Geophysical Research Planets
  • Evidence for Multiple Diagenetic Episodes in Ancient Fluvial-Lacustrine Sedimentary Rocks in Gale Crater, Mars, 2020, Journal of Geophysical Research Planets

Collaboration plays a significant role in their research activities. Frequent coauthors include:

  • E. B. Rampe
  • R. V. Morris
  • Valerie Tu
  • T. F. Bristow
  • A. S. Yen

The topics Douglas W. Ming addresses are broad yet interconnected within planetary and space science domains. Their main research themes include:

  • Planetary Science and Exploration
  • Astro and Planetary Science
  • Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
  • Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
  • Space Exploration and Technology
  • Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
  • Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology

Best Publications

  • Detection of Perchlorate and the Soluble Chemistry of Martian Soil at the Phoenix Lander Site

    M. H. Hecht;S. P. Kounaves;R. C. Quinn;S. J. West

  • A habitable fluvio-lacustrine environment at Yellowknife Bay, Gale crater, Mars.

    J. P. Grotzinger;D. Y. Sumner;L. C. Kah;K. Stack

  • Jarosite and hematite at Meridiani Planum from Opportunity's Mössbauer spectrometer

    G. Klingelhöfer;R. V. Morris;B. Bernhardt;C. Schröder

  • Mineralogy of a Mudstone at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars

    D.T. Vaniman;D.L. Bish;D.W. Ming;T.F. Bristow

  • Deposition, exhumation, and paleoclimate of an ancient lake deposit, Gale crater, Mars.

    J.P. Grotzinger;S. Gupta;M. C. Malin;D.M. Rubin

  • Overview of the Spirit Mars Exploration Rover Mission to Gusev Crater: Landing site to Backstay Rock in the Columbia Hills

    R. E. Arvidson;S. W. Squyres;R. C. Anderson;J. F. Bell

  • The Sample Analysis at Mars Investigation and Instrument Suite

    Paul R. Mahaffy;Christopher R. Webster;Michel Cabane;Pamela G. Conrad

  • H2O at the Phoenix landing site.

    P. H. Smith;L. K. Tamppari;R. E. Arvidson;D. Bass

  • The Opportunity Rover's Athena science investigation at Meridiani Planum, Mars.

    S. W. Squyres;R. E. Arvidson;J.F. Bell;J. Brückner

  • Organic matter preserved in 3-billion-year-old mudstones at Gale crater, Mars.

    Jennifer L. Eigenbrode;Roger E. Summons;Andrew Steele;Caroline Freissinet

  • Mössbauer mineralogy of rock, soil, and dust at Gusev crater, Mars: Spirit's journey through weakly altered olivine basalt on the plains and pervasively altered basalt in the Columbia Hills

    R. V. Morris;G. Klingelhöfer;C. Schröder;D. S. Rodionov

  • Volatile, Isotope, and Organic Analysis of Martian Fines with the Mars Curiosity Rover

    L. A. Leshin;P. R. Mahaffy;C. R. Webster;M. Cabane

  • Detection of silica-rich deposits on Mars.

    Steven W. Squyres;Raymond E. Arvidson;S. Ruff;R. Gellert

  • Volatile and organic compositions of sedimentary rocks in Yellowknife Bay, Gale crater, Mars.

    Douglas W. Ming;P. D. Archer;D. P. Glavin;J. L. Eigenbrode

  • Identification of Carbonate-Rich Outcrops on Mars by the Spirit Rover

    Richard V. Morris;Steven W. Ruff;Ralf Gellert;Douglas W. Ming

  • Mineralogy, composition, and alteration of Mars Pathfinder rocks and soils: Evidence from multispectral, elemental, and magnetic data on terrestrial analogue, SNC meteorite, and Pathfinder samples

    Richard V. Morris;D. C. Golden;James F. Bell;Tad D. Shelfer

  • Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS): Results from Gusev crater and calibration report

    R. Gellert;R. Gellert;R. Rieder;J. Brückner;B. C. Clark

  • Chemistry of rocks and soils at Meridiani Planum from the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer.

    R. Rieder;R. Gellert;R. C. Anderson;J. Brückner

  • An integrated view of the chemistry and mineralogy of martian soils

    Albert S. Yen;Ralf Gellert;Christian Schröder;Richard V. Morris

  • Chemistry and mineralogy of outcrops at Meridiani Planum

    Benton C. Clark;R. V. Morris;S. M. McLennan;R. Gellert

Frequent Co-Authors

Richard V. Morris
Richard V. Morris Langley Research Center
John P. Grotzinger
John P. Grotzinger California Institute of Technology
Ralf Gellert
Ralf Gellert University of Guelph
Raymond E. Arvidson
Raymond E. Arvidson Washington University in St. Louis
Steven W. Squyres
Steven W. Squyres Cornell University
David T. Vaniman
David T. Vaniman Planetary Science Institute
Paul R. Mahaffy
Paul R. Mahaffy Goddard Space Flight Center
Steve J. Chipera
Steve J. Chipera Planetary Science Institute
Robert T. Downs
Robert T. Downs University of Arizona
Jack D. Farmer
Jack D. Farmer Arizona State University

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