• AOSC and NOAA Explore Impact of
    COVID-19 Shutdown on Air Quality
  • UMD Flights Help the State
    Understand Air Quality

Atmospheric Chemistry & Physics

Atmospheric chemistry and physics research at the University of Maryland focuses on quantification of the effect of human activity on atmospheric ozone and aerosols and the effects of aerosols on clouds. Interestingly, pollution leads to higher levels of tropospheric ozone (so-called “bad ozone”, because ozone in the lower atmosphere is harmful to human health and agriculture) and, at the same time, pollution also leads to reduced levels of stratospheric ozone (so-called “good ozone”, because ozone in the upper atmosphere protects life from harmful solar ultra-violet radiation). Aerosols, particularly small size particles produced by combustion, pose a significant health risk, especially for children and the elderly. Atmospheric aerosols are also important for the radiative forcing of climate: aerosols caused by pollution can either warm or cool the surface, depending on the composition and optical properties of the particles.  Aerosols also have significant effects on clouds and precipitation.

 

photo of new york city taken from aircraft

Photo of Lower Manhattan from a NOAA research aircraft on a flight studying the impact of COVID-19 on air quality.   May 6, 2020. Image taken by Xinrong Ren. 

 

Description

We conduct in-situ observations of atmospheric constituents, perform retrievals of gases and aerosols from satellite data, and conduct model simulations of atmospheric chemistry on local, regional, and global scales to better understand natural and human influences on atmospheric composition and air quality.

Below we provide observations and forecasts of surface ozone and other trace gases, aerosols composed of particles smaller than 2.5 micron diameter (PM2.5), and total column ozone (reflecting mainly the amount of ozone in the stratosphere). The Air Quality Index and UV Index, which reflect the cleanliness of the air we breathe and the time it takes to sunburn, are derived from the geophysical parameters that are the focal point of our research.

 

Thunderstorm over Oklahoma, seen from a plane.

Photo of thunderstorm cloud over Oklahoma taken from a NASA DC-8 aircraft during the Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry field program. Many research efforts in our group focus on the effect of atmospheric transport and convection on atmospheric composition, including efforts for the upcoming NASA-sponsored DCOTSS campaign and our ongoing efforts for MDE-sponsored RAMMPP and the NIST-sponsored FLAGG-MD projects. Credit: Ken Pickering.

Storm trajectories - 3D models

Air parcel trajectories computed from wind fields simulated by high-resolution cloud-resolved WRF model simulations for three storms observed during the Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry field program. Credit: Yunyao Li and Ken Pickering.

 

Research Areas

Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Quality

Climate

  • Greenhouse gas observations (Dickerson, Ren)
  • Fluxes of greenhouse gases from urban areas and major sources (Dickerson, Ren, Salawitch)
  • Modeling of future temperature trends resulting from varied emission scenarios (Salawitch, Canty)

Atmospheric Physics

  • Effects of aerosols on clouds and precipitation (Li)

 

 

Advising

Advising Faculty

  • Allen
  • Canty
  • Conny
  • Dickerson
  • Kahn
  • Krotkov
  • Li
  • Pickering
  • Ren
  • Salawitch
  • Thompson
  • Warner
  • Wolfe

Non-Advising Faculty

  • Hudson

 

 


 

research aircraft in flight

 

External Links

Maryland Air Quality Data

 

Current Surface Pressure Analysis

UV Yesterday and Today

Forecast Total Ozone

GEOS-CF forecasts from NASA Goddard GMAO

 

Potential Research Topics/Projects for Prospective Graduate Students:

 

Past Dissertations

 

Courses Relevant to Atmospheric Chemistry

  • AOSC 433, Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate (undergraduate level)
  • AOSC 434, Air Pollution
  • AOSC 620, Physics and Chemistry of the Atmosphere I (AOSC Core)
  • AOSC 621, Physics and Chemistry of the Atmosphere II (AOSC Core)
  • AOSC 633, Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate (graduate level)
  • AOSC 634, Air Sampling and Analysis
  • AOSC 637, Atmospheric Chemistry (Advanced)
  • AOSC 652, Analysis Methods in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science
  • AOSC 675, Carbon Cycle and Climate

 

Link to Official UMD Schedule of Classes

 

Staff

Associate Research Scientist
Graduate Student
Associate Professor
MEES Director
Graduate Student
Graduate Assistant
Graduate Student
Research Assistant
Visiting Research Scientist
Assistant Research Professor
Alumnus/a
Professor Emeritus
Adjunct Professor
Distinguished University Professor
Research Professor
Visiting Research Scientist
Postdoctoral Associate
Professor
Adjunct Professor
Research Professor
Assistant Research Scientist
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Graduate Student
Research Assistant