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

Aerosols consist of minute particles (usually under several microns in size) that stay suspended in Earth's atmosphere for prolonged durations (ranging from days to weeks). These particles encompass various types, including desert dust, wildfire-derived black and organic carbon, and pollution-induced nitrate aerosols. They profoundly influence climate patterns, air visibility, and public health. Departmental research covers experimental analyses (Murphy and Caulton) of aerosols' chemical composition, optical characteristics, physical properties, and cloud-nucleation capabilities, alongside computational modeling (McCoy) of their radiative effects and atmospheric life cycles (encompassing emission, transport, dry deposition, and removal through cloud and precipitation processes). Field investigations employ sophisticated instruments—some developed at UW—from both terrestrial and aerial platforms. Modeling efforts utilize outputs from the global Community Earth System Model (CESM) and regional Weather Research and Forecasting Model with chemistry (WRF-Chem). These aerosol and radiative forcing models are refined by comparing their predictions with ground-based, airborne, satellite, and lidar observations.