---

David J. MacKinnon, Physical Scientist September 23, 1944 - October 19, 2006 Obituary Education Recent Projects Previous Projects Project Related Web Pages Significant Research Accomplishments Scientific Leadership Scientific & Public Service Outreach & Information Transfer Honors, Awards, Recognition, Elected Memberships Bibliography Return to About:People

---

Education

• University of Arizona, Tucson Ph.D. Atmospheric Science
• University of Arizona, Tucson M.S. Meteorology
• California State College, Fresno B.S. Physics, Math

Top

---

Recent Projects

Project Title: ASTER DEM (digital elevation model) development and geometric calibration

Principal Algorithm Developer, NASA-Terrestrial Program

My primary role in this project is to develop automatic computer algorithms to extract digital elevation models of the surface features from the novel along-track stereo acquisitions of ASTER and support the effort to determine the dynamic and static calibration of the ASTER instrument geometry.

Project Title: Impacts of climate change and land use on the southwest U.S.

Invited investigator: remote sensing of dust and ground truthing, USGS Earth Surface Processes Program

I have developed the methodology whereby data acquired from widely separated meteorological and climatological stations are searched for dates and times of extreme wind events and/or duststorms in the southwest U.S. to determine which satellites have observed the events. Additionally, I have been involved helping field check the satellite-observed dust sources, acquire soil samples, identify specific sites for remote, solar-powered, meteorological stations, and recommend instrument configuration. I have also been asked to development advancements in the scientific community's dust-emission model and to specify and/or develop new sensors for this model.

Project Title: Origin of Deposits in the Northern Plains of Mars

Co-investigator, topography extraction and modelling of sediment/fluid flow and subsurface erosion mechanisms, NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program

Kenneth L. Tanaka and I are investigating major geologic deposits in the martian northern plains primarily through geologic mapping, topographic and morphometric measurements, geomorphic analysis, and minerologic and surface roughness characterization. My specific role is to develop and provide algorithms for topographic measurements and help modify existing photoclinometric code to work with new planetary image data.

Top

---

Previous Projects

Member, "Los Alamos National Laboratory Project" [Phil Davis, P.I.].

Prepared highly detailed 1:250,000 surficial mass-density maps. Work part of integrated GIS for seismic properties over all of Asia.

Principal Investigator, "Detection and modeling of dust emission and vegetation in the Southwestern U.S.", funded by the NASA Terrestrial Program [Co-I's: Pat Chavez, Jr., USGS, Dale Gillette, NOAA, and Bob Fraser, NASA.]

Planned and directed research to identify active dust sources in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts and relate activity to climatically forced vegetation change. This project also funded my position as satellite data manager for joint Russian/American dust storm experiment at Owens, Lake, CA in 1993.

Member, "Lunar Calibration Project" funded by the NASA Terrestrial Program [P.I.: Hugh H. Kieffer ].

Designed and built (with Henry Britten, Northern Arizona University) unique observatory to shelter Lunar calibration instruments. (Instruments had to be mounted on concrete piers mechanically separated from the shelter; upper half of shelter had to be completely detachable on a trackway; building interior had to be completely shielded from lightning by a "Faraday Cage".)

Scientist-in-Charge for satellite data for the Soviet-American Desert Dust Experiment in Tadzhikistan during September 1989, funded by National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) [Dale A. Gillette, P.I.].

In charge of planning and scheduling NOAA's Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer satellite over flights to coincide with ground-based experiment, and of acquiring and processing satellite data following the experiment. Placed in charge of 5 ground-based aerosol and light-transmission measurement systems while in Tadzhikistan.

Principal Investigator (Oct. 1983-Sept. 1986), "Theoretical Investigation on the Evolution of Eolian Landforms" funded by NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program [Co-I: A.W. Ward].

Developed analysis techniques and performed wind tunnel experiments describing the interaction of wind and sediments. Applied results to Earth, Mars, and Venusian atmospheres.

Co-Investigator (Oct. 1986-Sept. 1989), "Hydrologic Anomalies Caused by Igneous and Tectonic Activity on Mars" funded by NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program [P.I: Ken Tanaka].

Developed the geologic framework for a two-layer impacted crust model for Mars from which the physical, mechanical, and hydrologic properties can be inferred to account the spectacular outflow and fretted channels that dissect the Martian highland surface.

Co-Investigator, "Desert Winds Surficial Processes Project, funded USGS Climate Program and NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program [P.I.'s: Jack McCauley and/or Carol Breed].

Supervised design and testing of sensors for remote monitoring of eolian sediment flux in desert environments. Developed models for predicting sediment flux using data acquired from ground-based instrumentation. Initiated and supervised research on the correlation between the presence of dust during wind storms and the extent and vigor of vegetation cover over the dust source areas upwind of the Yuma, Arizona region.

Top

---

Project Related Web Pages

• USGS Astro: Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS)
• USGS Earth Surface Processes: Impacts of Climate Change and Land Use on the Southwestern U.S.
• USGS TerraWeb: Applying Remote Sensing to Dust Detection
• USGS Mojave Desert Ecosystem Studies: Where Desert Meets City
• USGS TerraWeb: Wind Erosion Vulnerability and Rainfall Mapping

Top

---

Significant Research Accomplishments

Recent Accomplishments

• I was scientist-in-charge of satellite data acquisition in support of a joint Soviet/American dust storm experiment conducted in March 1993 at Owens Lake California. Using satellite imagery I was able to monitor the entire evolution of a tremendous 12-hour dust storm and showed that satellite-measured opacities were similar to those measured independently at the ground. I discovered from this study the detection of dust clouds can be dramatically improved by observing them at low sun-elevation angles, the satellite data showed the temporal evolution of the surficial erosion as the brighter salts in the surface crust were stripped from the darker underlying bed, and snow fields located downwind were observed to significantly drop in brightness as dust was deposited.
• My recent work with Pat Chavez for the USGS Climate Change Program shows that our meteorological-data screening techniques have identified wind events in the Mojave Desert that also have associated dust emission for which we have confirmation using new GOES satellite. Our satellite dust emission imagery will provide critical data from which to develop a calibrated dust emission model for the USGS Climate Change Program.
• Since 1996 on NASA's ASTER Project I have developed automatic correlation algorithms to extract both the motion and digital elevation models (DEM) of glaciers. This DEM algorithm will be distributed to an international consortium of glaciological institutes to monitor all the glaciers of the world.
• In 1996, I showed that the detection of glacier motion by automatic correlation can be improved in comparison to results derived by other scientists. Using an optimized low-pass filter on two time-separated pairs of Landsat TM (Thematic Mapper) images of fractured ice streams in Antarctica resulted in the extraction of the glacier motion that not only duplicated the results found by other scientists over a small part of the scene, but also extended the results over the whole scene.
• Currently, I have been developing DEM-extraction algorithms which requires accurate measurement of stereo parallax displacements among surficial features in images acquired from two different orbit locations. I have successfully performed exhaustive and detailed tests on two types of satellite data over the most extreme topography and glacial conditions expected by the ASTER Project -- an ASTER-simulation stereo pair for the Grand Canyon and a SPOT image pair acquired with mountain glaciers in the topographically extreme Nanga Parbat Range.

Other Career Accomplishments

Remote sensing of dust storms

• In 1988, I studied eolian dust emission using long-term measurements of coincident dust-reduced visibility and wind speed at weather stations located in the Southwestern deserts. My work showed a strong negative correlation between seasonal rainfall and the total amount of dust transported. I developed a model that predicted the amount of dust actually transported by the wind and compared this to the potential amount of dust that would have been emitted/transported assuming a dry, vegetationless surface.
• In 1989, I was scientist-in-charge of satellite data support for the Soviet-American Desert Dust Experiment in Tadzikistan. Additionally, I manned one field observation station and operated five separate ground experiments. My evaluation of the multi-spectral AVHRR image data showed that the denudation of land along the Amu Darya River in Tadzikistan and the upstream depletion of river water exposed the flood plain to wind erosion and attendant dust storms leading to significant damage to the very crops to which the water is diverted.
• In 1991, I was the Principal Investigator on a NASA Terrestrial Project to study how dust emission and vegetation cover respond to climate in the Southwestern U.S. I used GOES-VISSR (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Visible-Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer) to find active dust sources, show that changes in vegetation cover also could be easily distinguished on these reflectively bright dust sources, and show that the vegetation on these dust sources was much more responsive to precipitation than vegetation on desert surfaces outside the sources.

Contributions to planetary geology

• In 1986, I became a co-investigator with Ken Tanaka (principal investigator) to examine how Martian crustal hydraulic properties might explain its unusual outflow and fretted channels. I did laboratory experiments to measure the properties of terrestrial impact ejecta. I devised a mathematical model consistent with the laboratory measurements that specified the likely porosity, permeability, and size distribution of the upper 2 kilometers of Mars. Based on terrestrial coring data from nuclear and impact craters, I devised another mathematical model that characterized the physical and hydrologic properties of the crust below 2 km to be highly permeable, fractured basement rock. Combining these two models, Ken and I were able to show a two-layer model that accounted for much of the diversity in the surficial alteration of the Mars by subsurface hydraulic processes.

Top

---

Scientific Leadership

Scientist-in-charge of satellite data acquisition and processing for the joint Russian/American dust storm experiments during 1989 in Tadzikistan, SSR and during 1993 in Owens Lake, CA. During the ground-based effort in Tadzikistan, I was placed in charge of all American instrumentation and successfully maintained and operated five separate measurement systems during the two major dust storms studied.

From Sept. 1, 1990 to June, 1991, I was manager of the Astrogeology Team Image Processing Facility at the USGS in Flagstaff.

Top

---

Scientific & Public Service

Current Memberships in Professional Societies

American Geophysical Union, 1990-present

Technical Presentations

1. MacKinnon, D.J., 1972, Number density fluctuations of atmospheric scatterers: Fourth Lidar Conference, Proceedings, January 1972, Tucson, Arizona. (PRESENTED)
2. MacKinnon, D.J., 1975, Can vegetable productivity be economically increased in the northeastern U.S.? Published through the Institute of Public Policy Alternatives of the State University of New York at Albany, 1975. (100% R-W) (INVITED)
3. Welch, J.H., Olson, K.R., and MacKinnon, D.J., 1978, Solar synergy: Written testimony to the Chairman of the Solar Energy Policy Committee presented and published at the Solar Energy Policy Forum in Los Angeles, California, June 15-16, 1978, 2 p. (PRESENTED)
4. MacKinnon, D.J., Ward, A.W., Greeley, R., 1985, Theoretical investigation on the evolution of eolian landforms: PGPI abstracts, p. 580-582. (PRESENTED)
5. MacKinnon, D.J., 1986, Sand-grain response in planetary atmospheres: Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (XVII), Abstracts, p. 508-509. (PRESENTED)
6. MacKinnon, D.J., 1987, Eolian saltation on Mars: PGPI abstracts, p. 271-273. (PRESENTED)
7. MacKinnon, D.J., and Tanaka, K.L., 1987, Nigral Vallis Basin--Some questions on fluvial and regolith history: Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (XVIII), p. 588-589.(PRESENTED)
8. Tanaka, K.L., and MacKinnon, D.J., 1987, Development of Chryse hydrologic system, Mars: Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (XVIII), p. 996-997. (PRESENTED)
9. MacKinnon, D.J., and Tanaka, K.L., 1988, A two-layer hydrologic model for the impacted Martian crust: Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XVIX, p. 707-708. (PRESENTED)
10. MacKinnon, D.J., Tanaka, K.L., and Winchell, P.J., 1988, Morphologic contrasts between Nirgal and Auqakuh Valles: Evidence of different crustal properties: MEVTV Workshop on Nature and Composition of Surface Units on Mars, p. 82-84. (PRESENTED)
11. Tanaka, K.L., and MacKinnon, D.J., 1989, Release of Martian catastrophic floods by fracture discharge from volcano tectonic regions: Fourth International Conference on Mars, University of Arizona, p. 200-201. (PRESENTED)
12. MacKinnon, D.J., and Tanaka, K.L., 1990, A Physical model of the impacted Martian Crust: Hydrologic and mechanical properties and geologic implications: 21st Lunar Planetary Science Conference. p. 728-729. (PRESENTED)
13. MacKinnon, D.J., 1991, Dust: Can satellite images be used to measure this Harbinger of irreversible climatic change in the Southwest U.S. Deserts?: 1991 Annual GSA Conference, p. 314 (Poster Session).
14. MacKinnon, D.J., 1991, Qualitative evaluation of multi-spectral NOAA-11 AVHRR images for suspended dust occurrences during the joint U.S./U.S.S.R. Tadzhikestan S.S.R. dust storm experiment: 1991 Annual AGU Meeting, p. 106 (PRESENTED).
15. Chavez, P.S., Jr., and MacKinnon, D.J., 1992, Detecting duststorms and vegetation changes in the Southwestern U.S.: American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Annual Conference, Albuquerque, NM, March 1992, p. ?? (PRESENTED)
16. Chavez, P.S., Jr., and MacKinnon, D.J., 1993, Change detection of duststorms and vegetation: Workshop on Remote Sensing of Soils and Vegetation, sponsored by USDA Research Center, Phoenix, AZ, January 1993, p. 48. (PRESENTED)
17. MacKinnon, D.J., Kieffer, H.H., Bishop, M.P., Shroder, J.F., Jr., 1999, Extraction of digital of digital elevation models from satellite image data to support land-ice studies. International Glaciological Society, Zurich, Switzerland, August 16, 1999. (PRESENTED)
18. MacKinnon, D.J., and Chavez, P.S., Jr, 1999, Low-sun-angle enhancement of suspended dust at Owen Lake, California, as observed in visible-band, GOES-VISSR satellite image data. Workshop on Mineral Dust, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, June 9-11, 1999, p. P10 (PRESENTED)
19. Tanaka, K.L., and MacKinnon, D.J., 1999, Basins and Sedimentation within the martian northern plains, 2pp. NASA progress abstract: Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program.

Rendering Scientific Judgement

• 1983-1985 Member, NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Review Panel.
• 1983-present Proposal Reviewer: NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics and Terrestrial Programs
• 1983-present Professional Paper Reviewer: Journal of Geophysical Research and Journal of Climatology

Lectureships and Other Academic Service

• 1989 Co-chair of USGS-Northern Arizona U Lecture Series Program with G. Haxel
• 1990 Chair of USGS-Northern Arizona U Lecture Series Program

Special Assignments

• 1989 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Workshop on Climatic Change, Oct 23-26, 1989, Boulder, Colorado, Invited Participant.
• 1990 U.S. Geological Survey Workshop on Climatic Change, Jan. 23-26, 1990, Monterey California, Invited Participant.
• 1998 Member, Research Peer Promotion Panel

Top

---

Outreach and Information Transfer

• 1992 Invited classroom and field lecturer to Flagstaff School District high school science teachers on eolian erosion, deposition, and transport processes and landform manifestation prior to and during a 4-dayfield trip to the Pinnacate volcanic/dune fields in Northern Mexico during December 1992.
• 1997 Invited classroom and field lecturer to a new group of Flagstaff School District high school science teachers on climate change and its relationship to eolian processes prior to and during a 4-day field trip to the Pinnacate volcanic/dune fields during December 1997.)

Top

---

Honors, Awards, Recognition, Elected Memberships

National Science Foundation Traineeship Award: University of Arizona (1968-1970)

Top

---

Bibliography

Published Reports

1. MacKinnon, D.J., 1969, The effect of hygroscopic particles on the backscattered power from a laser beam: Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, p. 500-510. (100% R-W)
2. MacKinnon, D.J., 1974, An analysis of the fluctuations in laser light caused by the motion of atmospheric scatterers: Ph.D. dissertation (1974), Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 271 p. (100%, R-W)
3. MacKinnon, D.J., 1975, Light fluctuations from atmospheric scatterers: A condensation of Ph.D. dissertation (1975, unpublished) 30 p.
4. MacKinnon, D.J., 1977, Light levels in solar greenhouses: some recommendations: Conference on Energy Conserving Solar Heated Greenhouses, Proceedings, Marlboro College, Marlboro, Vermont, November 19-20, 1977, p. 102-106. (100% R-W)
5. MacKinnon, D.J., 1978, The Solar Greenhouse: Rodale Press, Inc., Emmaus, Pennsylvania, 351 p. (25% R-W)
6. MacKinnon, D.J., 1978, The solar greenhouse: How well does it collect diffuse light?: Published in a special energy volume by the College of Architecture, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 6 p. (100% R-W)
7. Welch, J.H., Olson, K.R., and MacKinnon, D.J., 1978, Thermal performance of a totally passive solar greenhouse in Flagstaff, Arizona: Proceedings of the Conference on Humanistic Alternatives, May 1978, Roaring Fork Resource Center, Aspen, Colorado, 5 p. (35%R 20%W)
8. MacKinnon, D.J., 1979, How well can a greenhouse survive extreme winter conditions: Third National Passive Solar Conference, Proceedings, San Jose, California, Jan. 8-10, 1979, 5 p. (100% R-W)
9. MacKinnon, D.J., 1979, Qualitative analysis of a two-year record of the thermal response of a passive solar greenhouse in Flagstaff, Arizona: Third National Passive Solar Conferences, Proceedings, San Jose, Calif., Jan. 8-10, 1979, 5 p. (100% R-W)
10. MacKinnon, D.J., 1979, Quantitative analysis of light levels in solar greenhouses: National Passive Solar Greenhouse Conference, Living and Growing, Proceedings, Plymouth Massachusetts, March 23-27, 1979, 10 p. (100% R-W)
11. MacKinnon, D.J., 1979, Microclimatic considerations in solar greenhouse design: Great Lakes Solar Greenhouse Conference, Proceedings, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo, Michigan, June 3-5, 1979, 7 p. (100% R-W)
12. McCauley, J.F., Breed, C.S., Grolier, M.J., and MacKinnon, D.J., 1981, The U.S. dust storm of February 1977: Geological Society of America, Special Paper 186, p. 123-147. (15% R-W)
13. McCauley, J.F., Breed, C.S., Helm, P.J., Billingsley, G.H., MacKinnon, D.J., Grolier, M.J., and McCauley, C.K., 1984, Remote monitoring of processes that shape desert surfaces: The Desert Winds Project: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1634, 19 p. (10% R-W)
14. MacKinnon, D.J., and Tanaka, K.L., 1989, The impacted Martian crust: structure, hydrology, and some geologic implications: Journal of Geophysical Research, 94, b.12, p. 17,359-17,370. (70%R, 50%W)
15. MacKinnon, D.J., Elder, D.F., Helm, P.J., Tuesink, M.F., and Nist, C.A., 1990, A method to evaluate effects of antecedent precipitation on dust storms and its application to Yuma, Arizona 1981-1988: Climate Change, 17, p. 331-360. (50%R, 50%W)
16. MacKinnon, D.J., 1992, NOAA AVHRR Satellite Imagery of the Tadzhikistan Dust Storms of 16 and 20 September 1989 in U.S. Results from a Joint U.S./U.S.S.R. Experiment for the Study of Desert Dust and its Impact on Local Meteorological Conditions and Climate (in Russian), p. 25-26. (100%R, 100%W)
17. MacKinnon, D.J., and Chavez, P.S., Jr., 1993. Duststorms: Earth Magazine, May 1993, p. 60-64. (75%R, 90%W)
18. Gillette, D.A., Bodhaine, B.A., and MacKinnon, D.,1993. Transport and deposition of desert dust in the Kafirnigan River Valley (Tadzhikistan) from Shaartuz to Esanbay: Measurements and a simple model: Atmospheric Environment, 27a, no. 16, p. 2545-2552. (30%R, 10%W)
19. Chavez, P.S., Jr., and MacKinnon, D.J., 1994. Automatic detection of vegetation changes in the southwestern United States using remotely sensed images: Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, v. 60, no.5, p. 571-583. (40%R, 30%W)
20. MacKinnon, D.J., Chavez, P.S., Jr., Fraser, R.S., Johnson, T.C., and Gillette, D.A., 1996. Calibration of GOES-VISSR, visible-band satellite data and its application of a dust storm at Owens Lake, California: Geomorphology, v. 17, p. 229-248. (80%R, 90%W)

Reports Accepted for Publication

1. Bishop, M.A., Kargel, J.A., Kieffer, H.H., MacKinnon, D.J., Raup, B.R., Shroder, J.F., Jr., in press, Remote sensing science and technology for studying glacier processes in high Asia, Annals of Glaciology, 25pp.

Publications

1. A Method of Evaluating Effects of Antecedent Precipitation on Duststorms and Its Application to Yuma, Arizona, 1981-1988 (Climate Change, 17, 331-360,1990)
2. Calibration of GOES-VISSR, visible-band satellite data and its application to the analysis of a dust storm at Owens Lake, California (Geomorphology, 17, 229-248, 1996)
3. The Impacted Martian Crust: Structure, Hydrology, and Some Geologic Implications (JGR, 94, 17,359-17,370, 1989)

Top