Robert John Wilson

Affiliation: NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)

Division: Space Science and Astrobiology Division (ST)

Branch: Planetary Systems Branch (STT)

Email: robert.j.wilson@nasa.gov

Phone: 650-604-0026 

Websites: MCMC Homepage

Professional Biography

I received my BS in Electrical Engineering from Brown University in 1979 and studied meteorology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1979–1983). I joined the Planetary Circulations Group at the NOAA/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, NJ in 1983. I received an MS in Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences from Princeton University in 1993. I held a civil service position as a member of the Atmospheric Physics, Chemistry and Climate Group at GFDL until February 2017. I am now a member of the Mars Climate Modeling Center (MCMC) at NASA Ames Research Center. My research interests include the meteorology and the dynamics of planetary atmospheres. I have extensive experience working with general circulation models; I developed the GFDL Mars General Circulation Model for use in investigating issues related to Martian climate, specifically dust lifting and the transport of aerosols and volatiles. I have been active in collaborations with teams associated with the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer and Mars Climate Sounder instruments and I have contributed to the ongoing development of the EMARS Mars reanalysis project. 

Education

M.S. Atmosphere and Ocean Science, Princeton University – 1993

B.S. Electrical Engineering, Brown University  –  1979

Research Interests

Planetary atmospheres, Mars weather, Mars climate.

Select Publications

Kumar, A., England, S.L., Wilson, R.J. & Brecht, A.S. (2026). Quantifying high-frequency migrating tides in the atmosphere of Mars with observations From EMIRS, Curiosity and Perseverance. Geophysical Research Letters, 53(4). doi: 10.1029/2025GL118933

Mester, M., Wilson, R.J., Hollingsworth, J.L. & Kahre, M.A. (2026). The influence of Mars’ continental-scale topographic structures on its hemispheric asymmetry in baroclinic wave activity. Icarus, 444. doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2025.116833

Mester, M., Wilson, R.J. & Kahre, M.A. (2026). Radiatively coupled equatorial waves in Mars’ Aphelion Cloud Belt: Wavenumber-frequency analysis in Mars GCM simulations. Icarus, 449. doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2026.116967

Mester, M., Wilson, R.J. & Kahre, M.A. (2026). Transient and tidal wave precursors and atmospheric impacts of Mars’ flushing storm initiated regional storms in reanalysis data. Icarus, 441. doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2025.116690

Fan, S., Forget, F., Smith, M.D., Wilson, R.J., Guerlet, S., Badri, K.M. et al. (2025). Diurnal temperature variations and migrating thermal tides in the Martian lower atmosphere observed by the Emirates Mars InfraRed Spectrometer. JGR: Planets, 130(10). doi:10.1029/2025JE009092

Leino, J., Harri, A.-M., Wilson, R.J., Banfield, D., Lemmon, M., Paton, M., Rodriguez-Manfredi, J.-A. & Savijarvi, H. (2024). Ter-diurnal atmospheric tide on Mars. JGR: Planets, 129(8). doi:10.1029/2024JE008452

Hinson, D. & Wilson, R.J. (2024). Dust-storm forcing of Rossby waves on Mars. Icarus, 412. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2024.115998

Hinson, D. & Wilson, R.J. (2023). Diurnal waves forced by horizontal convergence of near-surface winds on Mars. Icarus, 394, 115420–115420. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2022.115420

Hinson, D., Wang, H., Wilson, R.J. & Spiga, A. (2022). Nighttime convection in water-ice clouds at high northern latitudes on Mars. Icarus, 371, 114693–114693. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114693

Hinson, D.P. & Wilson, R.J. (2021). Baroclinic waves in the northern hemisphere of Mars as observed by the MRO Mars Climate Sounder and the MGS Thermal Emission Spectrometer. Icarus, 357, 114152–114152. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2020.114152

Gillespie, H. E., Greybush, S.J. & Wilson, R.J. (2020). An Investigation of the Encirclement of Mars by Dust in the 2018 Global Dust Storm Using EMARS. JGR: Planets, 125(7), e2019JE006106-e2019JE006106. doi:10.1029/2019JE006106

Haberle, R.M., Kahre, M.A., Hollingsworth, J.L., Montmessin, F., Wilson, R.J., Urata, R.A., … Brecht, A.S., Kling, A.L.M. et al. (2019). Documentation of the NASA/Ames Legacy Mars Global Climate Model: Simulations of the present seasonal water cycle. Icarus, 333, 130–164. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2019.03.026

Bertrand, T., Wilson, R.J., Kahre, M.A., Urata, R.A. & Kling, A.L.M. (2019). Simulation of the 2018 Global Dust Storm on Mars Using the NASA Ames Mars GCM: A Multi-Tracer Approach. JGR: Planets, 125(7), e2019JE006122-e2019JE006122. doi:10.1029/2019JE006122

Mooring, T.A., Held, I.M. & Wilson, R.J. (2019). Effects of the Mean Flow on Martian Transient Eddy Activity: Studies with an Idealized General Circulation Model. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 76(8), 2375–2397. doi:10.1175/JAS-D-18-0247.1

Greybush, S.J., Kalnay, E., Wilson, R.J., Hoffman, R. N., Nehrkorn, T., Leidner, M. et al. (2019). The Ensemble Mars Atmosphere Reanalysis System (EMARS) Version 1.0. Geoscience Data Journal, 6(2), 137–150. doi:10.1002/gdj3.77

Barnes, J.R., Haberle, R.M., Wilson, R.J., Lewis, S.R., Murphy, J.R. & Read, P.L. (2017). The Global Circulation. In The Atmosphere and Climate of Mars (pp. 229–294). doi:10.1017/9781139060172.009

Kahre, M.A., Murphy, J.R., Newman, C.E., Wilson, R.J., Cantor, B.A., Lemmon, M.T. & Wolff, M.J. (2017). The Mars Dust Cycle. In R.M. Haberle, R.T. Clancy, F. Forgét, M.D. Smith, & R.W. Zurek (Eds.), The Atmosphere and Climate of Mars (pp. 295–337). doi:10.1017/9781139060172.010

Guzewich, S.D., Newman, C.E., de la Torre Juárez, M., Wilson, R.J., Lemmon, M., Smith et al. (2016). Atmospheric tides in Gale Crater, Mars. Icarus, 268, 37–49. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.12.028

Mooring, T.A. & Wilson, R.J. (2015). Transient eddies in the MACDA Mars reanalysis. JGR: Planets, 120(10), 1671–1696. doi:10.1002/2015JE004824

Kavulich, M.J., Szunyogh, I., Gyarmati, G. & Wilson, R.J. (2013). Local Dynamics of Baroclinic Waves in the Martian Atmosphere. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 70(11), 3415–3447. doi:10.1175/JAS-D-12-0262.1

Kleinböhl, A., Wilson, R.J., Kass, D., Schofield, J.T. & McCleese, D.J. (2013). The semidiurnal tide in the middle atmosphere of Mars. GRL, 40(10), 1952–1959. doi:10.1002/grl.50497

Wilson, R.J., Lewis, S.R., Montabone, L. & Smith, M.D. (2008). Influence of water ice clouds on Martian tropical atmospheric temperatures. GRL, 35(7), 7202–7202. doi:10.1029/2007GL032405

Wilson, R.J., Neumann, G.A. & Smith, M.D. (2007). Diurnal variation and radiative influence of Martian water ice clouds. GRL, 34(2), 2710–2710. doi:10.1029/2006GL027976

Basu, S., Wilson, R.J., Richardson, M. & Ingersoll, A. (2006). Simulation of spontaneous and variable global dust storms with the GFDL Mars GCM. JGR: Planets, 111(E9), 9004–9004. doi:10.1029/2005JE002660

Banfield, D., Conrath, B.J., Gierasch, P.J., Wilson, R.J. & Smith. (2004). Traveling waves in the martian atmosphere from MGS TES Nadir data. Icarus, 170(2), 365–403. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2004.03.015

Basu, S., Richardson, M.I. & Wilson, R.J. (2004). Simulation of the Martian dust cycle with the GFDL Mars GCM. JGR: Planets, 109(E11), 1–25. doi:10.1029/2004JE002243

Hinson, D.P., Wilson, R.J., Smith, M.D. & Conrath, B.J. (2003). Stationary planetary waves in the atmosphere of Mars during southern winter. JGR: Planets, 108(E1), 5004–5004. doi:10.1029/2002JE001949

Richardson, M.I. & Wilson, R.J. (2002). A topographically forced asymmetry in the martian circulation and climate. Nature, 416(6878), 298–301. doi:10.1038/416298a

Richardson, M.I. & Wilson, R.J. (2002). Investigation of the nature and stability of the Martian seasonal water cycle with a general circulation model. JGR: Planets, 107(E5), 7–1. doi:10.1029/2001JE001536

Richardson, M.I., Wilson, R.J. & Rodin, A.V. (2002). Water ice clouds in the Martian atmosphere: General circulation model experiments with a simple cloud scheme. JGR: Planets, 107(E9), 2–1. doi:10.1029/2001JE001804

Wilson, R.J., Banfield, D., Conrath, B.J. & Smith, M.D. (2002). Traveling waves in the Northern Hemisphere of Mars. GRL, 29(14), 29–21. doi:10.1029/2002GL014866

Wilson, R.J. (2002). Evidence for nonmigrating thermal tides in the Mars upper atmosphere from the Mars Global Surveyor Accelerometer Experiment. GRL, 29(7), 24–21. doi:10.1029/2001GL013975

Hamilton, K., Wilson, R.J. & Hemler, R.S. (2001). Spontaneous Stratospheric QBO-like Oscillations Simulated by the GFDL SKYHI General Circulation Model. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 58(21), 3271–3292. doi:10.1175/1520-0469(2001)058<3271:SSQLOS>2.0.CO;2

Wilson, R.J. (2000). The Martian Atmosphere During the Viking Mission, I Infrared Measurements of Atmospheric Temperatures Revisited. Icarus, 145(2), 555–579. doi:10.1006/icar.2000.6378

Wilson, R.J. M.I. Richardson (2000). Evidence for diurnal period Kelvin waves in the Martian atmosphere from Mars Global Surveyor TES data. GRL, 27(23), 3889–3892. doi:10.1029/2000GL012028

Hamilton, K., Wilson, R.J. & Hemler, R.S. (1999). Middle Atmosphere Simulated with High Vertical and Horizontal Resolution Versions of a GCM: Improvements in the Cold Pole Bias and Generation of a QBO-like Oscillation in the Tropics. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 56(22), 3829–3846. doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1999)056<3829:MASWHV>2.0.CO;2

Rodin, A.V., Clancy, R.T. & Wilson, R.J. (1999). Dynamical properties of Mars water ice clouds and their interactions with atmospheric dust and radiation. Advances in Space Research, 23(9), 1577–1585. doi:10.1016/S0273-1177(99)00173-8

Wilson, R.J. (1997). A general circulation model simulation of the Martian polar warming. GRL, 24(2), 123–126. doi:10.1029/96GL03814

Wilson, R.J. & Hamilton, K. (1996). Comprehensive Model Simulation of Thermal Tides in the Martian Atmosphere. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 53(9), 1290–1326. doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1996)053<1290:CMSOTT>2.0.CO;2

Hamilton, K., Wilson, R.J., Mahlman, J.D. & Umscheid, L. J. (1995). Climatology of the SKYHI Troposphere–Stratosphere–Mesosphere General Circulation Model. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 52(1), 5–43. doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1995)052<0005:COTSTG>2.0.CO;2

Williams, G.P. & Wilson, R.J. (1988). The Stability and Genesis of Rossby Vortices. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 45(2), 207–241. doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1988)045<0207:TSAGOR>2.0.CO;2

Technologies & Software

NASA Ames MCMC (2024, December 6). Ames Mars GCM (Version 3.2) [Computer software]. NASA GitHub. doi: 10.25966/ty4s-w176

NASA Ames MCMC (2024, January 17). Ames Mars GCM (Version 3.1) [Computer software]. NASA GitHub. doi: 10.25966/ty4s-w176

NASA Ames MCMC (2023, November 29). Ames Mars GCM (Version 3.0) [Computer software]. NASA GitHub. doi: 10.25966/ty4s-w176

NASA Ames MCMC (2025). Community Analysis Pipeline (Version 4.0) [Computer software]. NASA Planetary Science GitHub.

NASA Ames MCMC (2024, August 14). Data Portal Web Interface [Web tool]. NASA Ames Research Center, NASA.

NASA Ames MCMC (2023, April 12). NASA Ames Legacy Mars Global Climate Model [Computer software]. NASA GitHub. doi: 10.25966/3tpw-nt26

NASA Ames MCMC (2023). Beta Output Release 1 [Data set]. NASA Ames Mars Climate Modeling Center Data Portal. doi: 10.25966/rjgg-r639

NASA Ames MCMC (2023). Legacy Output Release [Data set]. NASA Ames Mars Climate Modeling Center Data Portal. doi: 10.25966/3tpw-nt26

Selected Seminars & Conference Presentations

Wilson R.J., Kumar, A. & England, S. (2025). High-frequency migrating tides in the Martian atmosphere [Abstract]. AGU Fall meeting, New Orleans, LA.

Wilson, R.J., Kling, A.L.M. & Kahre, M.A. (2024). Planetary-Scale Waves and Inertial Instability [Abstract]. LPI Contributions, 3007. Presented at the Tenth International Conference on Mars, Pasadena, CA.

Kling, A.L.M., Wilson, R.J., Kahre, M.A., Brecht, A.S. & Murphy, J.R. (2024). Impact of grid resolution on wave-mean flow interactions with Mars global mesoscale simulations [Abstract]. LPI Contributions, 3007. Presented at the Tenth International Conference on Mars, Pasadena, CA.

Wilson, R.J., Mester, M. & Kahre, M.A. (2024). Interpreting Surface Pressure Observations with a Global Climate Model [Abstract]. LPI Contributions, 3007. Presented at the Tenth International Conference on Mars, Pasadena, CA.

Wilson, R.J. & Kahre, M.A. (2022). A Network of Surface Pressure Observations to Constrain Aerosol Forcing in Mars Climate Models [Abstract]. Presented at the Seventh International Workshop on the Mars Atmosphere: Modelling and Observations, Paris, France.

Wilson, R.J. & Hinson, D.P. (2021). Topographically localized non-migrating tides in the Mars tropical atmosphere [Abstract]. Presented at the AGU Fall Meeting, New Orleans, LA & Virtual.

Wilson, R.J., Bertrand, T. & Kahre, M.A. (2019). Assessing martian thermal forcing from surface pressure data: The MY34 major dust storm [Abstract]. Presented at the 9th International Conference on Mars, Pasadena, CA.

Wilson, R.J. & Kahre, M.A. (2018). Modeling the Martian seasonal dust cycle [Abstract] (Vol. 42). Presented at the 42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly, Pasadena, CA.

Wilson, R.J., Murphy, J.M. & Tyler, D. (2017). Assessing atmospheric thermal Forcing from surface Pressure Data: Separating thermal Tides and local Topographic Influence [Abstract]. Presented at the Sixth International Workshop on the Mars Atmosphere: Modeling and Observations, Granada, Spain. doi:10.5194/EPSC2021-183

Wilson, R.J., Millour, E., Navarro, T., Forget, F. & Kahre, M.A. (2014). GCM Simulations of aphelion season tropical cloud and temperature structure [Abstract]. Presented at the Fifth International Workshop on the Mars Atmosphere: Modelling and Observation, Oxford, U.K.

Wilson, R.J. (2012). Martian dust storms, thermal tides and the Hadley circulation [Abstract]. Presented at the Comparative Climatology of Terrestrial Planets, Boulder, CO.

Wilson, R.J. (2012). The role of thermal tides in the martian dust cycle [Abstract]. Presented at the EPSC, Madrid, Spain.

Wilson, R.J. (2012). Thermal tides as revealed by Mars Climate Sounder [Abstract]. Presented at the EPSC, Madrid, Spain.

Wilson, R.J. (2011). Dust Cycle Modeling with the GFDL Mars General Circulation Model [Abstract]. Presented at the Fourth International Workshop on the Mars Atmosphere: Modeling and Observations, Paris, France.

Wilson, R.J. & Smith, M.D. (2006). The effects of atmospheric dust On the seasonal variation of martian surface temperature [Abstract]. Presented at the Second International Workshop on the Mars Atmosphere: Modeling and Observation, Granada, Spain.

Wilson, R.J., Hinson, D. & Smith, M.D. (2006). GCM simulations of transient eddies and frontal systems in the martian atmosphere [Abstract]. Presented at the Second International Workshop on the Mars Atmosphere: Modeling and Observation, Granada, Spain.

Wilson, R.J., Smith, M.D. & Neumann, G. (2006). The diurnal variation and radiative influence of martian water ice clouds [Abstract]. Presented at the Second International Workshop on the Mars Atmosphere: Modeling and Observation, Granada, Spain.

Wilson, R.J. & Richardson, M.I. (1999). Comparison of Mars GCM dust storm simulations with Viking mission observations [Abstract]. Presented at the 5th International Conference on Mars, Pasadena, CA.