H. H. Kieffer
Papers
12
Total Citations
399
H-Index
9
About
H. H. Kieffer is a distinguished planetary and remote sensing scientist whose career has centered on two interconnected domains: lunar radiometry and planetary science, most notably the characterization of Mars. He is perhaps best known as the driving intellectual force behind the US Geological Survey's RObotic Lunar Observatory (ROLO) project, which established the Moon as a reliable spectral radiance standard for calibrating Earth-orbiting satellites — a landmark contribution that has since become foundational to on-orbit instrument calibration. His 1996 paper proposing the Moon as a spectral radiance standard has accumulated 116 citations, while subsequent ROLO-related publications on uncertainty assessment, irradiance modeling, and inter-spacecraft calibration methodologies have collectively shaped modern remote sensing calibration practice. His 2020 work extending these principles to climate-quality radiometric standards underscores the enduring relevance of his research. Beyond lunar science, Kieffer contributed meaningfully to planetary chronology, with his widely cited 2015 enumeration of Mars years and seasons providing an indispensable reference framework for the Mars science community. Across more than two decades of sustained output, Kieffer's work has profoundly influenced how scientists ensure the long-term accuracy and consistency of satellite observations of Earth and beyond.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Establishing the Moon as a Spectral Radiance Standard116 citations · 1996
- 2
- 3Assessment of uncertainty in ROLO lunar irradiance for on-orbit calibration49 citations · 2004
- 4The Moon as a Climate-Quality Radiometric Calibration Reference48 citations · 2020
- 5
- 6Real‐Time Control of the Robotic Lunar Observatory Telescope25 citations · 1999
- 7
- 8Modeling the radiance of the moon for on-orbit calibration13 citations · 2003
- 9
- 10Lunar calibration of the GMS-5 visible band9 citations · 2002