Cloud & Aerosol Processes
Dr. Daniel M. Murphy, Program Lead
Mona Tell, Secretary (303) 497-3529
NOAA ESRL Chemical Sciences Division
325 Broadway R/CSD2
Boulder, CO 80305 USA
The Cloud and Aerosol Processes program in the Chemical Sciences Division studies processes of importance to climate, air quality, and precipitation. We measure the chemical, physical, and optical properties of aerosol particles from aircraft, ships, and ground sites as well as in the laboratory. By combining these with gas-phase and other measurements, we can learn about the sources, sinks, and radiative properties of these particles. We also collaborate with aircraft measurements of cloud droplets. We model the physical and radiative properties of clouds, including large eddy simulation models, mesoscale models, and detailed models of cloud chemistry. These model results are compared to in-situ and remote sensing data. Finally, we support regional and global scale studies of aerosol and cloud properties from satellite data and monitoring networks. All of these studies lead to improved understanding of atmospheric processes with a strong emphasis on delivering this understanding through scientific publications, assessments, and other tools.