April 2007
Leading the Fight Against Ozone Depletion
F. Sherwood Rowland received the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering that chlorofluorocarbons in products such as aerosol sprays and coolants were damaging the Earth’s protective ozone layer. Although the finding was controversial at first, it ultimately led to a world ban on CFCs. Rowland, Donald Bren Research Professor of Chemistry and Earth System Science, also investigates the causes of global warming and has advanced research on how large-scale wildfires and agricultural waste contribute to this atmospheric phenomenon. In addition to his far-reaching research, Rowland regularly addresses major conferences and advises world leaders on the impact and dangers of ozone depletion and global warming. Contact Rowland at 949-824-6016 or rowland@uci.edu.
More to Smog than Meets the Eye
Donald Blake studies the atmospheric gases that can affect urban air quality, climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion. Part of his research focuses on highly polluted cities throughout the world, where he has found unexpected sources of urban pollution, such as emissions of liquefied petroleum gas from home fuel tanks. Blake’s study of chronic air pollution that chokes Mexico City helped find solutions to the pressing problem. Blake, professor of chemistry, has published more than 270 scientific papers on atmospheric chemistry. Contact Blake at 949-824-4195 or drblake@uci.edu.
Greenhouse Gases Affect the Oceans Too
Ellen Druffel served on the National Research Council committee that in June 2006 determined the last few decades of the 20th century were warmer than any comparable period in the last 400 years. Druffel, professor of Earth system science, studies oceans to determine past records of water temperature and circulation. By examining annual coral bands, she can determine the mixing patterns and temperature of oceans in the past. Through this research, Druffel is discovering how the oceans have changed, which helps researchers understand the impact of global warming on the ocean’s ability to absorb greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. Contact Druffel at 949-824-2116, 949-824-3272 or edruffel@uci.edu.
Chemistry and Climate Change
Barbara Finlayson-Pitts studies chemical reactions in the lower atmosphere to better understand air pollution. She directs AirUCI – Atmospheric Integrated Research for Understanding Chemistry at Interfaces – an effort to better understand how air and water interact in the atmosphere and how those processes affect air quality and global climate change. Finlayson-Pitts, a chemistry professor, has studied the effects of sea salt on urban smog formation, as well as how chemical reactions on the surfaces of buildings and roads affect urban air quality and models of air pollution. Finlayson-Pitts can be reached at 949-824-7670 or bjfinlay@uci.edu.
The Human Fingerprint on Global Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate
Michael Prather studies the physical, chemical and biological processes that determine atmospheric composition. His research includes predicting how human activities and natural phenomena such as volcanoes can alter the global distribution of trace gases in the atmosphere, affecting climate change and the quality of the air we breathe. He led the last international assessment of the climactic impacts of aviation, wrote the chapters on atmospheric chemistry for two Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments (1996 and 2001), and is a lead author on the 2007 IPCC assessment. During his 2005-2006 assignment as Jefferson Science Fellow in the U.S. State Department, he worked as an environment, science and technology analyst. Prather is the Fred Kavli chair and professor of Earth system science at UC Irvine. Contact Prather at 949-824-5838 or mprather@uci.edu.
Burning of the Biosphere
James Randerson studies how human activity is changing climate and terrestrial ecosystems. His research seeks to improve our understanding of the global carbon cycle, including links between deforestation and fire and drought in the tropics, and the impact of changes in high northern-latitude climate on terrestrial ecosystems. Randerson is an associate professor of Earth system science at UCI. Contact Randerson at 949-824-9030 or jranders@uci.edu.
The Land Response to Climate Change
Susan Trumbore studies soils and plant life for clues on how natural carbon cycles are altered by human activity. In particular, she determines the degree to which future warming can increase the release of carbon dioxide from plants and soils and potentially accelerate rising carbon dioxide levels. This research takes Trumbore around the globe, from digging soil pits in the Sierra Nevada to collecting gases from deep below a Brazilian forest floor. Trumbore is a professor of Earth system science at UC Irvine. Contact Trumbore at 949-824-6142, 949-824-3444, 949-824-9027 or setrumbo@uci.edu.
El Nino Affects Climate Change
Jin-Yi Yu is an expert on El Nino, the warming of Pacific Ocean water and winter storms in California. His research covers issues ranging from global-scale climate change to monsoon rainfalls in North America and Asia. Yu, associate professor of Earth system science, received his doctorate from the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington. Contact Yu at 949-824-3878 or jyyu@uci.edu.
Dust in the Wind: More Than Pretty Sunsets
Charlie Zender studies the effects of airborne chemicals, clouds and aerosols on climate change. Dust from the world's deserts changes cloud properties, rainfall locations and ocean carbon fixation, making it a hot topic in Earth science. Zender studies plumes of dust, industrial soot and biomass burning with a global climate model that predicts the sources, dispersal and fate of these particulates. These plumes can change climate after they land by darkening and melting snow and ice. Zender, associate professor of Earth System Science, also studies valley fever, a dust-borne disease that strikes Central California. Contact Zender at 949-824-2987, 949-824-8043 or zender@uci.edu.
