Research Interests
I am interested in quantifying the interactions between the biosphere and the atmosphere and understanding how these interactions impact air quality and climate. These interactions include emissions of trace gases and particles from the biosphere to the atmosphere and deposition back to the biosphere. I am interested in how these processes impact air quality at local and regional scales, today and in the future.
Some of my research activities include:
- Modeling emissions of trace gases and aerosols from undisturbed (biogenic) and disturbed (fires) vegetation at regional and global scales;
- Modeling atmospheric chemistry on global and regional scales;
- Evaluating the impact of biogenic emissions on aerosol formation and concentrations in the atmosphere;
- Understanding the feedbacks of aerosols and clouds on the biosphere;
- Integration of models, satellite observations, and field measurements;
- Investigation of land cover and land use change on emissions and regional air quality;
- Development of web-based databases of BVOC emissions measurements for use by the research community (See bvoc.acd.ucar.edu )
As a member of the Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions group at NCAR, I use laboratory, field, and satellite observations in conjunction with models to understand individual processes, coupled feedbacks, and entire cycles.
I am part of the TIIMES BEACHON project.
Some of the modeling tools that are used include:
- The Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN)
- The Weather Research Forecast model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem)
- The EPA Models-3 Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) Modeling System (MODELS3/CMAQ)
- The Model for OZone and Related chemical Tracers (Mozart)
I am a co-organizer of the Biogenic Secondary Organic Aerosol Workshops for early career scientists in the US and Nordic Coutries.
Field Work
Storm Peal Aerosol and Cloud Characteristics Study (SPACCS), Spring 2008
Fires
Education
- B.S., Chemical Engineering, Tulane University
- M.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
- Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
Women in Science
The Earth Science Women's Network (ESWN)
Useful web resources for women in Earth Sciences (Natalie Maholwald, Cornell University)
Hey Jane! articles (Sociologists for Women in Society)
Journals
- Atmospheric Chemistry & Physics
- Atmospheric Environment
- Carbon Balance and Management
- Earth Interactions
- Environmental Research Letters
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Global Biogeochemical Cycles
- Journal of Geophysical Research- Atmospheres
- Nature
- Science
In the News
- Carbon dioxide emissions from fires (October 31, 2007)
- Mercury from fires in the US ( October 17, 2007)
Other Misc. Sites
Interview with Denver Woman Magazine (July 2007)
updated May 30, 2008