Zoom
Satellite isoprene retrievals constrain emissions and atmospheric oxidation
Prof. Dylan Millet
Isoprene is the dominant non-methane organic compound emitted to the atmosphere. It drives ozone and aerosol production, affects the self-cleansing capacity of the atmosphere, and interacts with the global nitrogen cycle. Isoprene emissions are highly uncertain, as is the nonlinear chemistry coupling isoprene and the hydroxyl radical, OH—its primary sink. In this talk we’ll present the first global isoprene measurements taken from space using the Cross-track Infrared Sounder, developed by our group in collaboration with NASA JPL. Together with observations of formaldehyde, an isoprene oxidation product, these measurements provide novel constraints on both isoprene emissions and atmospheric oxidation. We’ll analyze these datasets over global isoprene hotspots in relation to model predictions, and discuss their implications for current understanding of atmospheric oxidation.
Exploring the engagement of our science outside academia: Who could I be sharing my research with?
Prof. Jess Gutknecht
Who should we/could we engage? As each of us excel in our scientific fields, who could be impacted by our work? How do we carry the knowledge we are learning to the world and to the people who can most use that knowledge? I participated recently in a paper about the need for agricultural scientists to engage in collective politics (Jordan et al. 2020), with collective politics defined as being generally engaged with our work outside academia. With this paper in mind and with regard to our work to increase the equity of our sciences and engage more diverse voices, it’s also important to think about who we do or don’t engage, which stakeholders we think about with our work, who’s stories we tell in that process. I will give a brief update on some of my research projects through the eyes of stakeholders and research partners who are interfacing with this work. In this lightning talk I’ll also briefly talk about barriers toward most scientists engaging with collective politics.
Part of our Spring 2021 Seminar series.
Recordings are shared on our YouTube channel.