Research Interests

I am broadly interested in climate and its inter-relationship with global atmospheric dynamics and the chemical constituents of the atmosphere. The major thrust of my research has been the analysis and modeling of global atmospheric dynamics and minor constituent transport in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, but has recently expanded to include water vapor and cloud processes. My work includes analysis of both data and a range of different atmospheric models.

My research focuses on the exchange of air between the stratosphere and the troposphere, with a focus on water vapor. The exchange of air (and especially water vapor) across the tropopause is of fundamental importance for predicting the future chemistry of the stratosphere, and the future evolution and recovery of the stratospheric ozone layer. Water vapor in this region also has important radiative feedbacks on climate. Understanding water vapor variations and trends has led me to expand my research to understanding cloud processes and their role in the climate system.

I have been pursuing these questions using both satellite and in-situ data (chemical constituents and atmospheric thermodynamics) as well as model studies using idealized models and general circulation models (GCM’s). I have found this approach very fruitful. Models and observations together can add more insight than either one on their own. Each highlights deficiencies in the other. I expect to continue to use both sets of tools in the future. I am now involved in several model development activities at different scales and I am advising a satellite science team.

Teaching Interests

My teaching focus is to use multiple approaches to make the material accessible for different learning styles. For example, sometimes understanding is found visually or graphically, and sometimes numerically. From personal experience as a student and a teacher, I have found that creating interest and understanding requires a variety of approaches. I have found this generally works at all levels, from 2^nd grade up through undergraduate and graduate students. I also value the development of my own written and oral communication skills inherent in teaching.

I am very comfortable in teaching climate, atmospheric dynamics, dynamic meteorology or atmospheric chemistry at a basic or advanced level. I recently helped organize a basic graduate climate course at the University of Colorado. I am also interested in teaching how dynamics is linked to atmospheric chemistry and other global change issues. I consider myself well versed enough in most aspects of atmospheric science to teach advanced undergraduate and graduate level courses in atmospheric physics (dynamics, thermodynamics, cloud processes, and basic radiation).

I am also interested in developing graduate or undergraduate courses related to the global environment and global change, either alone or with an interdisciplinary team of faculty. I would be interested in teaching the atmospheric component of a broader course on global change or biogeochemistry. I have taught guest lectures for such a course at the University of Colorado and the University of Washington, where I also participated in developing an undergraduate curriculum in environmental science. I enjoy the variety of perspectives and vocabularies that the students from different disciplines bring to such a course.