World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Philip R. Christensen

Philip R. Christensen

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Earth Science
USA
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Earth Science

D-Index
114
Citations
41600
World Ranking
61
National Ranking
26

Philip R. Christensen publication distribution in Earth Science in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Earth Science in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Philip R. Christensen sits on this spectrum.

38–47 publications: 5 scientists 48–57 publications: 33 scientists 58–67 publications: 94 scientists 68–77 publications: 161 scientists 78–87 publications: 278 scientists 88–97 publications: 376 scientists 98–107 publications: 404 scientists 108–117 publications: 484 scientists 118–127 publications: 540 scientists 128–137 publications: 557 scientists 138–147 publications: 491 scientists 148–157 publications: 495 scientists 158–167 publications: 458 scientists 168–177 publications: 490 scientists 178–187 publications: 414 scientists 188–197 publications: 401 scientists 198–207 publications: 333 scientists 208–217 publications: 292 scientists 218–227 publications: 290 scientists 228–237 publications: 262 scientists 238–247 publications: 243 scientists 248–257 publications: 208 scientists 258–267 publications: 185 scientists 268–277 publications: 147 scientists 278–287 publications: 128 scientists 288–297 publications: 119 scientists 298–307 publications: 120 scientists 308–317 publications: 107 scientists 318–327 publications: 93 scientists 328–337 publications: 87 scientists 338–347 publications: 64 scientists 348–357 publications: 87 scientists 358–367 publications: 60 scientists 368–377 publications: 60 scientists 378–387 publications: 34 scientists 388–397 publications: 50 scientists 398–407 publications: 44 scientists 408–417 publications: 31 scientists 418–427 publications: 39 scientists 428–437 publications: 27 scientists 438–447 publications: 36 scientists 448–457 publications: 27 scientists 458–467 publications: 29 scientists 468–477 publications: 30 scientists 478–487 publications: 19 scientists 488–497 publications: 15 scientists 498–507 publications: 18 scientists 508–517 publications: 19 scientists 518–527 publications: 16 scientists 528–537 publications: 10 scientists 538–547 publications: 11 scientists 548–557 publications: 14 scientists 558–567 publications: 11 scientists 568–577 publications: 7 scientists 578–587 publications: 14 scientists 588–597 publications: 5 scientists 598–602 publications: 4 scientists 603+ publications: 100 scientists
38 publications 603+

This scientist: 618 publications — 99th percentile

99% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 603 publications or more.

Philip R. Christensen D-index placement in Earth Science in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Earth Science scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Philip R. Christensen sits on this spectrum.

30 D-Index: 144 scientists 31 D-Index: 215 scientists 32 D-Index: 278 scientists 33 D-Index: 379 scientists 34 D-Index: 366 scientists 35 D-Index: 372 scientists 36 D-Index: 389 scientists 37 D-Index: 366 scientists 38 D-Index: 344 scientists 39 D-Index: 349 scientists 40 D-Index: 296 scientists 41 D-Index: 289 scientists 42 D-Index: 277 scientists 43 D-Index: 279 scientists 44 D-Index: 248 scientists 45 D-Index: 257 scientists 46 D-Index: 212 scientists 47 D-Index: 202 scientists 48 D-Index: 207 scientists 49 D-Index: 204 scientists 50 D-Index: 183 scientists 51 D-Index: 178 scientists 52 D-Index: 182 scientists 53 D-Index: 178 scientists 54 D-Index: 163 scientists 55 D-Index: 117 scientists 56 D-Index: 163 scientists 57 D-Index: 120 scientists 58 D-Index: 113 scientists 59 D-Index: 136 scientists 60 D-Index: 135 scientists 61 D-Index: 96 scientists 62 D-Index: 103 scientists 63 D-Index: 83 scientists 64 D-Index: 103 scientists 65 D-Index: 83 scientists 66 D-Index: 89 scientists 67 D-Index: 92 scientists 68 D-Index: 89 scientists 69 D-Index: 78 scientists 70 D-Index: 75 scientists 71 D-Index: 53 scientists 72 D-Index: 62 scientists 73 D-Index: 54 scientists 74 D-Index: 35 scientists 75 D-Index: 52 scientists 76 D-Index: 50 scientists 77 D-Index: 32 scientists 78 D-Index: 37 scientists 79 D-Index: 20 scientists 80 D-Index: 33 scientists 81 D-Index: 36 scientists 82 D-Index: 34 scientists 83 D-Index: 34 scientists 84 D-Index: 24 scientists 85 D-Index: 19 scientists 86 D-Index: 18 scientists 87 D-Index: 26 scientists 88 D-Index: 30 scientists 89 D-Index: 17 scientists 90 D-Index: 21 scientists 91 D-Index: 19 scientists 92 D-Index: 15 scientists 93 D-Index: 14 scientists 94 D-Index: 20 scientists 95 D-Index: 9 scientists 96 D-Index: 10 scientists 97 D-Index: 15 scientists 98 D-Index: 13 scientists 99 D-Index: 3 scientists 100 D-Index: 13 scientists 101 D-Index: 3 scientists 102 D-Index: 9 scientists 103 D-Index: 4 scientists 104 D-Index: 6 scientists 105 D-Index: 6 scientists 106+ D-Index: 98 scientists
30 D-Index 106+

This scientist: 114 D-Index — 99th percentile

99% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 106 D-Index or more.

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Earth Science in United States Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Earth Science in United States Leader Award
  • 2004 - Fellow of American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Overview

Philip R. Christensen is affiliated with Arizona State University in the United States. Their research primarily focuses on the fields of Physics and Astronomy, with a strong emphasis on subfields such as Astronomy and Astrophysics, Ecology, Aerospace Engineering, Physiology, and Geophysics.

The scientist's work covers a range of main topics including:

  • Planetary Science and Exploration
  • Astro and Planetary Science
  • Isotope Analysis in Ecology
  • Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
  • Space Exploration and Technology
  • Spaceflight effects on biology
  • Geological and Geochemical Analysis

Philip R. Christensen has published extensively in several key scientific venues, including:

  • Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) with 12 publications
  • Journal of Geophysical Research Planets with 9 publications
  • Space Science Reviews with 7 publications
  • Geophysical Research Letters with 7 publications
  • The Planetary Science Journal with 5 publications

Frequent collaborators include:

  • V. E. Hamilton (25 co-authored papers)
  • Christopher S. Edwards (17 co-authored papers)
  • H. H. Kaplan (14 co-authored papers)
  • M. D. Smith (12 co-authored papers)
  • T. D. Glotch (11 co-authored papers)

Among notable recent research papers authored or co-authored by Philip R. Christensen are:

  • "Asteroid (101955) Bennu's weak boulders and thermally anomalous equator," 2020, published in Science Advances
  • "Lucy Mission to the Trojan Asteroids: Science Goals," 2021, published in The Planetary Science Journal
  • "Spacecraft sample collection and subsurface excavation of asteroid (101955) Bennu," 2022, published in Science
  • "The Emirates Mars Mission," 2022, published in Space Science Reviews
  • "Science Overview of the Europa Clipper Mission," 2024, published in Space Science Reviews

Philip R. Christensen was awarded the title of Fellow of the American Geophysical Union in 2004.

Best Publications

  • In situ evidence for an ancient aqueous environment at Meridiani Planum, Mars.

    Steven W. Squyres;John P. Grotzinger;Raymond E. Arvidson;James F. Bell

  • Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer experiment: Investigation description and surface science results

    Philip Christensen;J. L. Bandfield;V. E. Hamilton;Steven Ruff

  • The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) for the Mars 2001 Odyssey mission

    Philip R. Christensen;Bruce M. Jakosky;Hugh H. Kieffer;Michael C. Malin

  • A Global View of Martian Surface Compositions from MGS-TES

    Joshua L. Bandfield;Victoria E. Hamilton;Philip R. Christensen

  • Monitoring urban land cover change: An expert system approach to land cover classification of semiarid to arid urban centers

    William L Stefanov;Michael S Ramsey;Philip R Christensen

  • OSIRIS-REx: Sample Return from Asteroid (101955) Bennu

    D. S. Lauretta;S. S. Balram-Knutson;E. Beshore;W. V. Boynton

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

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

  • Provenance and diagenesis of the evaporite-bearing Burns formation, Meridiani Planum, Mars

    S.M. McLennan;J.F. Bell;W. M. Calvin;P. R. Christensen

  • High-Resolution Thermal Inertia Mapping from the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer

    Michael T Mellon;Bruce M Jakosky;Hugh H Kieffer;Philip R Christensen

  • Detection of crystalline hematite mineralization on Mars by the Thermal Emission Spectrometer: Evidence for near‐surface water

    Philip Christensen;J. L. Bandfield;R. N. Clark;K. S. Edgett

  • An intercomparison of ground-based millimeter, MGS TES, and Viking atmospheric temperature measurements: Seasonal and interannual variability of temperatures and dust loading in the global Mars atmosphere

    R. T. Clancy;B. J. Sandor;M. J. Wolff;Philip Christensen

  • Chloride-Bearing Materials in the Southern Highlands of Mars

    M. M. Osterloo;V. E. Hamilton;J. L. Bandfield;T. D. Glotch

  • A thermal emission spectral library of rock-forming minerals

    Philip R. Christensen;Joshua L. Bandfield;Victoria E. Hamilton;Douglas A. Howard;Douglas A. Howard

  • Mineral abundance determination: Quantitative deconvolution of thermal emission spectra

    Michael S. Ramsey;Philip R. Christensen

  • The Spirit Rover's Athena Science Investigation at Gusev Crater, Mars

    Steven W. Squyres;Raymond E. Arvidson;James F. Bell;J. Bruckner

  • Bright and dark regions on Mars: Particle size and mineralogical characteristics based on thermal emission spectrometer data

    Steven W. Ruff;Philip R. Christensen

  • Mineralogy at Meridiani Planum from the Mini-TES Experiment on the Opportunity Rover.

    Philip Christensen;M. B. Wyatt;T. D. Glotch;A. D. Rogers

  • Formation of recent martian gullies through melting of extensive water-rich snow deposits

    Philip R. Christensen

  • 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

Harry Y. McSween
Harry Y. McSween University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Joshua L. Bandfield
Joshua L. Bandfield Space Science Institute
Victoria E. Hamilton
Victoria E. Hamilton Southwest Research Institute
James F. Bell
James F. Bell Arizona State University
Raymond E. Arvidson
Raymond E. Arvidson Washington University in St. Louis
Steven W. Squyres
Steven W. Squyres Cornell University
Steven W. Ruff
Steven W. Ruff Arizona State University
Jeffrey E. Moersch
Jeffrey E. Moersch University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Jeffrey R. Johnson
Jeffrey R. Johnson Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Ronald Greeley
Ronald Greeley Arizona State University

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