Department of Physics & Atmospheric Science

Faculty of Science

Atmospheric Science

Scientists interested in atmospheric science are concerned with the atmosphere and its processes, as well as how it affected by both natural and anthropogenic (human) activities. Meteorology and climatology are two main sub-disciplines of atmospheric science.

Many of Dalhousie's atmospheric scientists are pursuing research related to how particulate matter finds its way into the Earth's atmosphere - and how the composition of that particulate matter is affecting climate change and human health.

Faculty and Research

Rachel Chang

Dr. Rachel Chang studies the sources, transport and loss processes of particles and gases in the atmosphere in marine and polar regions. Of particular interest is using measurements of coastal and marine fog events to understand the contribution of oceanic emissions to the atmosphere and aqueous-phase chemical reactions. These results can be extrapolated to the stratus clouds that cover much of the ocean and be used to improve our understanding of how visibility varies between fog events. Other interests include investigating the sources of particles in the Arctic and carbon-cycling in permafrost regions.

James Drummond

James Drummond's research investigates the composition and chemistry of atmospheres, particularly measurements of atmospheres and instrumentation to make those measurements. His past and current projects have encompassed measuring the Earth's atmosphere from space for pollution and studies in the Arctic to measure the effects of climate change. One day, he hopes to develop an instrument that will orbit Mars to measure its atmosphere.

Thomas J. Duck

Dr. Thomas J. Duck’s research uses microwave satellite remote sensing to measure water vapour columns and surface properties in the Arctic and Antarctic. The data are important for climate research and numerical weather prediction. His group is developing new techniques for retrieving geophysical properties from satellite-measured brightness temperatures.

Ian Folkins

Dr. Ian Folkins' main interest is tropical meteorology, and to that end, his research investigates tropical moist convection, rainfall, and chemistry by studying tropical disturbances like hurricanes as well as other types of large coherent patterns. His lab members uses measurements from satellites, ballons, and aircraft to construct better corrective parameterizations, which are then tested in global forecast and climate models. Dr. Folkins' long-term goal with his research is to improve weather prediction in the tropics.

Manuel Helbig

Dr. Helbig's research aims to improve the current understanding of how ecosystems and atmosphere influence each other. The land and the atmosphere are tightly coupled systems that interact with in multiple ways. For more information please visit: http://fizz.phys.dal.ca/~helbig/