Randall V. Martin | |
---|---|
Occupation(s) | Scientist, engineer, academic and author |
Academic background | |
Education | BS., Electrical Engineering MSc., Environmental Change and Management MS., Engineering Sciences PhD., Engineering Sciences |
Alma mater | Cornell University Oxford University Harvard University |
Academic work | |
Institutions | Washington University in St. Louis |
Randall V. Martin is a scientist,engineer,academic and author. He is the Raymond R. Tucker Distinguished Professor in the Department of Energy,Environmental,and Chemical Engineering,with a courtesy appointment in Computer Science and Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis,McKelvey School of Engineering. [1]
Martin's research focuses on characterizing atmospheric composition to address environmental and public health issues through satellite remote sensing,modeling,and measurements,leading projects such as GEOS-Chem, [2] satellite-derived PM2.5, [3] SPARTAN, [4] and contributing to health and environmental assessments. [5] His publications comprise research articles and a textbook. He was named Highly Cited Researcher by the Web of Science, [6] a highly ranked scholar by ScholarGPS [7] and was listed in the top 25 environmental scientists by Research.com. [8] He has received the 2012 Steacie Memorial Fellowship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, [9] the 2020 American Geophysical Union Atmospheric Sciences Ascent Award, [10] and the 2024 Outstanding Faculty Award from the Washington University Graduate Student Senate. [11]
Martin earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University in 1996 followed by an MSc in Environmental Change and Management from Oxford University in 1998. He later received an MS (2001) and PhD (2002) in Engineering Sciences from Harvard University,becoming a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics from 2002 to 2003. [1]
Martin continued his academic career as an assistant professor of Physics and Atmospheric Science at Dalhousie University in 2003,later becoming associate professor in 2007 and Professor in 2011. He joined Washington University in 2019,and subsequently has been serving as the Raymond R. Tucker Distinguished Professor in the Department of Energy,Environmental,and Chemical Engineering,with a courtesy appointment in Computer Science and Engineering [12] He concurrently was a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory,Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics from 2003 to 2021. [13]
Martin has been involved in leadership of the global open-source GEOS-Chem model and its community since 2009,serving as Co-Model Scientist and co-chair of various working groups,including the GEOS-Chem High Performance (GCHP) Working Group,before becoming Model Scientist in 2022. [14] He initiated the development of global satellite-based estimates of fine particulate matter and founded the Surface Particulate Matter Network (SPARTAN) in 2012. [4] In 2019,he joined the NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team (HAQAST). [15]
Martin has contributed to the field of environmental engineering and environmental science by studying the processes affecting atmospheric composition and their implications for climate and air quality,utilizing global modeling,satellite retrievals,and targeted ground-based measurements. [5]
In a collaborative study,Martin interpreted satellite observations of tropical tropospheric ozone columns with the GEOS-Chem model,explaining a prominent scientific question known as the tropical Atlantic paradox. [16] Later,he evaluated the sensitivity of atmospheric oxidants to photochemical effects of aerosols not usually included in global models. [17] Furthermore,he interpreted observations of trace-gases from three satellite platforms to provide top-down constraints on the production of nitric oxide by lightning. [18] He also co-led an investigation into the effects of natural ammonia emissions on atmospheric particles and cloud-albedo radiative effects. [19] He led the development and application of methods for inverse modeling of satellite observations to constrain anthropogenic emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. [20] [21] He led the development of a new generation of the high-performance configuration of GEOS-Chem (GCHP). [22]
Martin's work on satellite remote sensing has focused on enhancing the detection and analysis of atmospheric trace gases and aerosols to improve understanding of air quality and climate. He created an algorithm to retrieve the global distribution of tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from satellite observations of sunlight reflected from Earth. [23] He further developed a capability for space-based diagnosis of surface ozone sensitivity to anthropogenic emissions. [24] He proposed a method to estimate ground-level NO2 concentrations using scaling factors from GEOS-Chem applied to satellite data,validated with ground-based measurements. [25]
In 2017,Martin co-authored the textbook Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer of Planetary Atmospheres with Kelly Chance,exploring spectroscopy and radiative transfer within atmospheric and planetary science,including knowledge of how stellar or thermal radiation propagates through atmospheres,how that propagation affects radiative forcing of climate,how atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gases produce unique spectroscopic signatures,how the properties of atmosphere may be quantitatively measured,and how those measurements relate to physical properties. A review published in the Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin stated,"This book provides this fundamental knowledge to a depth that will leave a student with the background to become capable of performing quantitative research on atmospheres." [26]
Martin's research has included investigation into global health conditions as well. In an article that was selected as Paper of the Year by Environmental Health Perspectives,he and colleagues combined remote sensing with information from the GEOS-Chem model to estimate global concentrations of fine particles (PM2.5). [27] He conducted a study to assess the source sector and fuel contributions to ambient PM2.5 and attributable mortality across multiple spatial scales,suggesting substantial health benefits from replacing traditional energy sources. [28] Moreover,alongside colleagues,he identified a reversal of trends in global PM2.5 air pollution over 1998–2019,which they quantitatively attributed to regional contributions. [29]
MOPITT is an ongoing astronomical instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite that measures global tropospheric carbon monoxide levels. It is part of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS), and combined with the other payload remote sensors on the Terra satellite, the spacecraft monitors the Earth's environment and climate changes. Following its construction in Canada, MOPITT was launched into Earth's orbit in 1999 and utilizes gas correlation spectroscopy to measure the presence of different gases in the troposphere. The fundamental operations occur in its optical system composed of two optical tables holding the bulk of the apparatus. Results from the MOPITT enable scientists to better understand carbon monoxide's effects on a global scale, and various studies have been conducted based on MOPITT's measurements.
Sea spray are aerosol particles formed from the ocean, mostly by ejection into Earth's atmosphere by bursting bubbles at the air-sea interface. Sea spray contains both organic matter and inorganic salts that form sea salt aerosol (SSA). SSA has the ability to form cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and remove anthropogenic aerosol pollutants from the atmosphere. Coarse sea spray has also been found to inhibit the development of lightning in storm clouds.
The polar wind or plasma fountain is a permanent outflow of plasma from the polar regions of Earth's magnetosphere. Conceptually similar to the solar wind, it is one of several mechanisms for the outflow of ionized particles. Ions accelerated by a polarization electric field known as an ambipolar electric field is believed to be the primary cause of polar wind. Similar processes operate on other planets.
Volcanic lightning is an electrical discharge caused by a volcanic eruption rather than from an ordinary thunderstorm. Volcanic lightning arises from colliding, fragmenting particles of volcanic ash, which generate static electricity within the volcanic plume, leading to the name dirty thunderstorm. Moist convection currents and ice formation also drive the eruption plume dynamics and can trigger volcanic lightning. Unlike ordinary thunderstorms, volcanic lightning can also occur when there are no ice crystals in the ash cloud.
Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) is a proposed method of solar geoengineering to reduce global warming. This would introduce aerosols into the stratosphere to create a cooling effect via global dimming and increased albedo, which occurs naturally from volcanic winter. It appears that stratospheric aerosol injection, at a moderate intensity, could counter most changes to temperature and precipitation, take effect rapidly, have low direct implementation costs, and be reversible in its direct climatic effects. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concludes that it "is the most-researched [solar geoengineering] method that it could limit warming to below 1.5 °C (2.7 °F)." However, like other solar geoengineering approaches, stratospheric aerosol injection would do so imperfectly and other effects are possible, particularly if used in a suboptimal manner.
Sreedharan Krishnakumari Satheesh is an Indian meteorologist and a professor at the Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). He holds the chair of the Divecha Centre for Climate Change, a centre under the umbrella of the IISc for researches on climate variability, climate change and their impact on the environment. He is known for his studies on atmospheric aerosols and is an elected fellow of all the three major Indian science academies viz. Indian Academy of Sciences Indian National Science Academy and the National Academy of Sciences, India as well as The World Academy of Sciences. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the apex agency of the Government of India for scientific research, awarded him the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, one of the highest Indian science awards for his contributions to Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences in 2009. He received the TWAS Prize of The World Academy of Sciences in 2011. In 2018, he received the Infosys Prize, one of the highest monetary awards in India that recognize excellence in science and research, for his work in the field of climate change.
Space-based measurements of carbon dioxide are used to help answer questions about Earth's carbon cycle. There are a variety of active and planned instruments for measuring carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere from space. The first satellite mission designed to measure CO2 was the Interferometric Monitor for Greenhouse Gases (IMG) on board the ADEOS I satellite in 1996. This mission lasted less than a year. Since then, additional space-based measurements have begun, including those from two high-precision satellites. Different instrument designs may reflect different primary missions.
Robert Eugene Bourdeau was an American physicist known for major contributions to the study of the ionosphere, plasma physics and radio science using space vehicles including satellites and rockets. Among his many achievements was the launch on November 3, 1960, of Explorer 8 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This occurred during his 16-year career at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He was both Project Manager and Project Scientist for Explorer 8 which added significant knowledge to the understanding of these fields.
Tamsin Alice Mather is a British Professor of Earth Sciences at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford and a Fellow of University College, Oxford. She studies volcanic processes and their impacts on the Earth's environment and has appeared on the television and radio.
Anne Mee Thompson is an American scientist, who specializes in atmospheric chemistry and climate change. Her work focuses on how human activities have changed the chemistry of the atmosphere, climate forcing, and the Earth's oxidizing capacity. Thompson is an elected fellow of the American Meteorological Society, American Geophysical Union, and AAAS.
Jo Ann Cram Joselyn is an astrogeophysicist. She was the first woman to receive a doctorate from the University of Colorado's astrogeophysics program, and has advocated for the importance of women's leadership in the sciences.
Johannes "Jos" Lelieveld is a Dutch atmospheric chemist. Since 2000, he has been a Scientific Member of the Max Planck Society and director of the Atmospheric Chemistry Department at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz. He is also professor at the University of Mainz and at the Cyprus Institute in Nicosia.
Richard Mansergh Thorne was an American physicist and a distinguished professor in the department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences at UCLA. He was known for his contributions to space plasma physics. He was a fellow of the American Geophysical Union.
M. Joan Alexander is an atmospheric scientist known for her research on gravity waves and their role in atmospheric circulation.
Lorraine Remer is research professor at University of Maryland, Baltimore County known for her work on developing algorithms to study aerosol particles using satellites with a particular focus on how aerosols impact climate processes.
Anne Ritger Douglass is atmospheric physicist known for her research on chlorinated compounds and the ozone layer.
Jennifer Logan is an atmospheric scientist known for her research on how human activities influence the atmosphere, particularly with respect to biomass burning and the ozone hole.
Patricia K. Quinn is an atmospheric chemist working at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency's Pacific Marine Environmental Lab. She is known for her work on the impact of atmospheric aerosol particles on air quality and climate.
Michelle F. Thomsen is space physicist known for her research on the magnetospheres of Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn.
Atmospheric correction for Interferometric Synthetic ApertureRadar (InSAR) technique is a set of different methods to remove artefact displacement from an interferogram caused by the effect of weather variables such as humidity, temperature, and pressure. An interferogram is generated by processing two synthetic-aperture radar images before and after a geophysical event like an earthquake. Corrections for atmospheric variations are an important stage of InSAR data processing in many study areas to measure surface displacement because relative humidity differences of 20% can cause inaccuracies of 10–14 cm InSAR due to varying delays in the radar signal. Overall, atmospheric correction methods can be divided into two categories: a) Using Atmospheric Phase Screen (APS) statistical properties and b) Using auxiliary (external) data such as GPS measurements, multi-spectral observations, local meteorological models, and global atmospheric models.