Category: Atmospheric science

Aircraft based air quality field studies are still relevant to help calibrate and validate satellite air quality measurements

March 20, 2022

Satellites have revolutionized our approach towards performing atmospheric research. Specifically, satellites afford unprecedented reach and coverage for large areas of the globe previously inaccessible to air quality field studies. Different parameters could be measured and data collected that help build sophisticated models for air quality in particular locale over different timescales. But, these data needs … More Aircraft based air quality field studies are still relevant to help calibrate and validate satellite air quality measurements

Monitoring of air quality by satellites

September 23, 2020

Air quality parameters such as concentration of ozone, carbon monoxide and nitric oxide are typically measured by ground-based stations equipped with sensitive instruments. However, such measurements are local and given that air quality monitoring stations are sparsely located, construction of a high resolution map of air pollutant concentration of an area such as the city … More Monitoring of air quality by satellites

Solar wind strips away the atmosphere of Mars

March 2, 2020

Solar wind refers to the stream of high speed charged particles streaming from the Sun. On Earth, it interacts with the planet’s magnetic field to generate the aurora lights at the polar regions. But, without the protection of the Earth’s magnetic field, charged particles of the solar wind would have interacted more strongly with the … More Solar wind strips away the atmosphere of Mars

Computer simulations have enabled more accurate weather prediction

May 15, 2019

Computer modelling and simulation together with the use of weather data from different sources have contributed significantly to improvement in weather forecast. For example, modern 5 day weather forecast are as accurate as 1 day forecast in the 1980s. This meant that modern weather forecasts could predict weather events at longer time points into the … More Computer simulations have enabled more accurate weather prediction

Role of organic particles in seeding growth of aerosols in the atmosphere

May 10, 2019

Article in Nature, Vol. 533, 26 May 2016, pp. 527, “The role of low-volatility organic compounds in initial particle growth in the atmosphere”   Summary of article: Using nitrate ion chemical ionization atmospheric pressure interface time of flight mass spectrometry, a particle growth model for organic aerosols was proposed and validated.   Comment: Organic materials … More Role of organic particles in seeding growth of aerosols in the atmosphere

Clouds constitute a significant source of uncertainty in climate modelling

December 3, 2018

Clouds play dual roles in our understanding of how increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration impact on climate. Firstly, they serve as reflectors that reflect the incoming solar radiation back into space, and thus constitute a cooling factor in climate modelling. However, cloud also traps heat in the air layer between it and the ground due … More Clouds constitute a significant source of uncertainty in climate modelling

Weather attribution studies could relate a particular weather event to climate change with high accuracy

September 21, 2018

The ability to relate a particular weather event to climate change was lacking about a decade ago. However, with a statistical modelling approach combined with computer simulation of climate evolution, it has become possible to identify, with high accuracy, the causative factors that influence a weather event. Typically, climate modelling could inform the relative extent … More Weather attribution studies could relate a particular weather event to climate change with high accuracy

Comparing environmental performance of electric and hybrid vehicles

March 29, 2018

Hybrid and electric vehicles both aim to reduce the impact of cars on the environment such as in mitigating climate change and reducing local air pollution. However, their different technology platforms set an inherent threshold on the amount of protection that they could offer to the environment. For example, electric vehicles could only offer protection … More Comparing environmental performance of electric and hybrid vehicles

Do renewable fuels solve a climate change problem or air quality problem?

March 8, 2018

Whether renewable fuels help combat climate change or solve local air quality problems depends on how cleanly the fuel could be burned. Specifically, if the renewable fuel burns cleanly and with less emissions compared to conventional gasoline, it could potentially help alleviate local air pollution problem. However, if the renewable fuel is comparable to conventional … More Do renewable fuels solve a climate change problem or air quality problem?