The University of Arizona
Faculty



Charles P. Sonett
Regents’ Professor Emeritus, Planetary physics
Ph.D., 1954, UCLA

Lunar and Planetary Lab
University of Arizona
Tucson AZ 85721

Kuiper Space Sciences 321
520.621.6935
E-mail Sonett

Dr. Sonett’s current research is based upon a combination of space physics and earth sciences aimed at problems in planetary sciences.

The space research involves study of the properties of the solar wind discontinuities, waves, and large scale heliospheric geometry, primarily as an Interdisciplinary Scientist on the Ulysses mission over the poles of the Sun.

Earth based science is directed at studying variations in the radiocarbon record with the aim of extracting information of very long term solar variability partially to track very long period climatic variations. A concomitant study involves a model of an ancient supernova as the source of some quite large and enigmatic variations seen world-wide in the record of cosmic ray generated radioactive beryllium.

Dr. Sonett is also studying very early records of sedimentary layers to try to define better the rate of retreat of the Moon form the Earth; the same sort of record may also provide clues on ancient climate a billion or more years ago.

More about Dr. Sonett