RMRS - Atmospheric Sciences: Science Resource Center

Science Application & Integration

Scientists

Atmospheric Science

Picture of Earth's atmosphere from space - Photo courtesy nasa.gov

Atmospheric science is the study of the atmosphere - the blanket of air covering the Earth.

Atmospheric scientists study the atmosphere's physical characteristics, motions, processes, and the way in which these factors affect the rest of our environment in an attempt to identify and interpret climate trends, understand past weather, and analyze today's weather. Weather information and meteorological research are also applied in air-pollution control, agriculture, forestry, and the study of possible trends in the Earth's climate, such as global warming, droughts, wildland fires and ozone depletion (bls.gov).

RMRS forest fire and atmospheric sciences research is directed at developing knowledge, technology, and systems for protecting all forestlands and rangelands of the United States from fire, and applying atmospheric factors to the solution of fire and forestry problems. The Science Policy, Planning, Inventory and Information Staff are divided into two technical program areas: (1) fire management, and (2) atmospheric sciences.

Forest Fire Management: This research is focused on developing methods and guidelines to improve prevention and control of wildfires, and to promote more efficient fire management methods for fires resulting from both human and natural hazards. Research is directed toward improving prescribed burning techniques used to dispose of slash, to protect plantations, to control undesirable vegetation, and to improve wildlife habitat. Research includes the economics of various fire management strategies.

Atmospheric Science: This research is focused on atmospheric behavior as related to forest management activities involving the prevention, use, and control of fires, air resource management, integrated pest management, and forest ecosystem management. This research develops knowledge, technology, and systems for use in fire and forestry management, fire-weather measurement and analyses, fire-danger rating and the meteorological aspects of air resource management. This program includes research work units specializing in fire and forest meteorology, mountain meteorology, atmospheric physics, atmospheric chemistry, prevention of lightning fires, air quality aspects of fuel treatment and prescribed fires, and air resource management. The program participates with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in a national fire-weather research program. Primarily, atmospheric sciences are held within the Air, Water and Aquatics and Fire, Fuel and Smoke Programs.

Ozone

Ozone is a gas that occurs both in the Earth's upper atmosphere and at ground level. Ozone can be "good" or "bad" for people's health and for the environment, depending on its location in the atmosphere.

In the troposphere, the air closest to the Earth's surface, ground-level or "bad" ozone is a pollutant that is a significant health risk, especially for children with asthma. It also damages crops, trees and other vegetation. It is a main ingredient of urban smog.

The stratosphere, or "good" ozone layer extends upward from about 6 to 30 miles and protects life on Earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. This natural shield has been gradually depleted by man-made chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

A depleted ozone shield allows more UV radiation to reach the ground, leading to more cases of skin cancer, cataracts, and other health and environmental problems.

Researchers: Robert Musselman

Smoky fire on the bank of a body of water

Fire (See Fire-Fuels)

Fire affects the ozone in ways that are both helpful and harmful. 90% of the CO2 emissions from land use change are from deforestation, much of which is done by intentional burning. Fires are an important part of nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxides and ozone. The ozone forms when hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) produced by the fire react in the presence of sunlight.

Negative effects of fires stems from the use of Halon, the most common agent used to extinguish fires. This chemical substance is another major depletor of the ozone.

Depletion of the ozone results in many problems including negative effects on the health of the general public and damage to food crops.The gradual phaseout of Halon has been taking place since laws were implemented in the U.S. in 1994.

Researchers: Wei-Min Hao | Emily Heyerdahl | Shawn Urbanski

Atmospheric Scientists

Scientist

Research Interests

Wei-Min Hao
Research Chemist

Missoula Fire Lab

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Interests:

Developing a spatial distribution of daily emissions of atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gases from fires in North America from 2001 to 2008.
Comparing the fire emission sources with the industrial sources for greenhouse gases and air pollutants seasonally and annually in different regions of North America.
Developing an air quality forecasting model, WRF-Smoke Dispersion Model, to quantify the atmospheric pollutant concentrations downwind from large fires.
Studying the smoke plume dynamics and the optical properties of smoke particles using the most advanced scanning lidar.

Geographic Areas: North America.

Emily Heyerdahl
Research Forester