Atmospheric Chemistry

The Atmospheric Chemistry Subgroup investigates high-latitude chemical reactivity through a combination of field and laboratory studies. The subgroup works closely with the aerosol, radiation, meteorology groups in these studies. The listings below describe some current research foci. Follow the links to investigate these projects further. Interested students should investigate our excellent research and education opportunities.

Cathy Cahill
Investigates the chemistry of atmospheric aerosols through field and laboratory studies. She is currently investigating the size and composition of particles entering the Arctic from other regions of the globe.
e-mail: cathy [dot] cahill [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu

Nicole Mölders
Employs chemistry transport models to examine the interaction between the trace gas, water and energy cycles.
e-mail: nicole [dot] molders [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu

Glenn Shaw
Investigates atmospheric aerosols and cloud physics. He is interested in global climate change issues and long range transport.
e-mail: glenn [dot] shaw [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu

Bill Simpson
Investigates Arctic radical chemistry through field measurements of trace gases and reactive radicals. Developing laser-based instruments using cavity ring-down spectroscopy and tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy. Active projects include development of a nitrate sensor using visible diode laser absorption and balloon-based sensing of ozone and carbon monoxide.
e-mail: ffwrs [at] uaf [dot] edu

Cloud & Aerosol Physics

Cloud & Aerosol Physics Subgroup studies cloud/aerosol physics and cloud dynamics. The subgroup works on Arctic problems like arctic haze, arctic stratus clouds, and global problems like cloud-radiation feedbacks. For more information on research opportunities in this group, contact one of the faculty listed below.

Cathy Cahill
Investigates the chemistry of atmospheric aerosols through field and laboratory studies. She is currently investigating the size and composition of particles entering the Arctic from other regions of the globe.
E-mail: cathy [dot] cahill [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu

Kenneth Sassen
Research activities include cloud remote sensing with lidar and radar, atmospheric optics, and the study of cloud physics and related instrumentation. Beginning in the early 1980s, his Mobile Polarization Lidar facility was widely applied to field measurement programs in the areas of aerosol scattering, winter storm weather modification and cirrus cloud research. Currently, he is involved in the FIRE, ARM, SASS, and EOS research projects.
E-mail: ksassen [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu

Glenn Shaw
Investigates atmospheric aerosols and cloud physics. He is interested in global climate change issues and long range transport.
E-mail: glenn [dot] shaw [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu

Arctic Facility for Atmospheric Remote Sensing

After recently joining the Atmospheric Sciences Group of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Professor Kenneth Sassen is in the process of establishing a major new research facility at the Geophysical Institute. The Arctic Facility for Atmospheric Remote Sensing, AFARS, will be applied to the research of the peculiar clouds and aerosols of the Interior and North Slope of Alaska.  Of special interest are the frigid clouds of the upper-troposphere, cirrus clouds and aircraft condensation trails (contrails), because these clouds can have a profound effect on  Earths climate, and yet are almost completely unstudied in polar regions.  Also of interest are the aerosols of this region, the wintertime arctic haze, the springtime Asian dust storm particles and the summer smoke from western forest fires. 

The instruments comprising AFARS are drawn largely from the facility Prof. Sassen established over the 15 years at the University of Utah to study midlatitude clouds.

Current plans at UAF include the establishment of a multiple remote sensor facility on campus. It will be located on the roof of the Elvey Building. An additional facility, the mobile Polarization Diversity Lidar will be located initially at the Poker Flat lidar site and then at the Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation site in Barrow, Alaska.

Alaska Climate Research Center

This research and service organization focuses  on Alaska and polar regions climatology; we archive climatological data for Alaska. We conduct research on a number of high latitude meteorological & climatological topics and provide useful links for related data. 

Visit the Alaska Climate Research Center site.

Visit the site for:

• Climate data
• Up to date summaries
• Alaska weather
• Historic data
• Information for tourists
• Weather on campus and
• Daily data for 51 stations across Alaska

Lidar Research Laboratory

The mission of the Lidar Research Laboratory (LRL) is to support laser radar (lidar) and associated studies of the Arctic atmosphere.

The laboratory is located at Poker Flat Research Range, Chatanika, Alaska and operated by the faculty, staff, and students of the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Completed in 2000, the LRL is a 5325 square foot (495 square meter) facility that houses several laboratories and shops that are equiped to support field experiments. The Geophysical Institute invites investigators who wish to conduct lidar and associated research to make use of this facility.

• The LRL is contributing to the International Polar Year as part of the Arctic Observing Network. Observations at the LRL are being used to study the middle atmosphere during the IPY to better understand the physics and chemistry of the Arctic polar vortex.
• The LRL supports studies of noctilucent clouds and the Eighth International Workshop on Layered Phenomena in the Mesopause Region (LPMR-8). LPMR-8 was held at the Geophysical Institute (GI) of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) on the UAF campus during 20-23 August 2007.

Aurora and a laser radar beam light up the sky on a winter's night at the Lidar Research Laboratory, Poker Flat Research Range, Chatanika, Alaska . The Geophysical Institute and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology operate the laser radar (or lidar) as part of an international collaborative study of the polar atmosphere.

The lidar like other experiments at Poker Flat Research Range, not only serves to study the atmosphere, but also provides hands-on research education opportunities for students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks

The following have and/or continue to support research activities at the LRL: US National Science Foundation, US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, US Department of Defense, State of Alaska, Japanese National Institute of Information and Communications Technology.

Learn more at http://www2.gi.alaska.edu/splidar/

For further information please contact:
Dr. Richard Collins
Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks,
903 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775.

Tel: (907) 474-7607.
E-mail: rlc [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu.