PhD in Atmospheric Science - Aerosols and Air Quality in Laramie United States | University of Wyoming

The Atmospheric Science Mobile Lab conducts winter measurements of methane and volatile organic compounds in oil and gas fields. Aerosols consist of microscopic particles (usually under a few microns) that stay suspended in Earth's atmosphere for days or weeks. These particles include desert dust, wildfire-derived black and organic carbon, and pollution-based nitrate aerosols. They profoundly influence climate, air quality, and public health. Department research covers both experimental analysis (Murphy and Caulton) of aerosols' chemical, optical, physical, and cloud-forming characteristics, and computational modeling (McCoy) of their radiative effects and atmospheric processes (including emissions, transport, deposition, and removal by clouds and precipitation). Field research employs ground and airborne platforms with sophisticated instruments, some developed at UW. Modeling utilizes the global Community Earth System Model (CESM) and regional WRF-Chem system, with results validated against surface, aircraft, satellite, and lidar observations.