Welcome!

I am an atmospheric scientist who uses computer models to better understand emissions of air pollutants.

I use Generalized Additive Models to analyze air quality data and to estimate pollution sources and factors contributing to unhealthy air.

I use the Weather Research & Forecasting model to simulate the winds in urban areas and the CAMx model which simulates pollution transport and atmospheric chemistry.

The wind simulations enable the Flexpart model to simulate particle trajectories. This tells us where air pollutants are going as well as where they came from.

These models can be combined with measurements of gases and particles in the atmosphere in order to estimate where and when pollutants are being emitted.

For example, I have studied the emissions of fine particles in St. Louis, mercury pollution in Milwaukee and the transport and sources of pollution in Mexico City.

In addition to computer models, I work with air pollution data collected by satellite. There are lots of satellites that are constantly measuring the amount of pollution in the atmosphere all over the globe, and this information tells us about the emissions and also about the wind transport. I am a member of NASA's Air Quality Applied Science Team where we work on using satellite data to improve air quality. As an example, in Mexico City we can estimate the emissions of sulfur dioxide from a volcano on one side of the city and from an industrial complex on the other. We can then use models to figure out how much these sources impact people living there.

For my teaching, I like to try out new things, such as clickers, peer review and problem based learning. You can read about some of them in the columns I wrote for the Reinert Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning when I was the Fellow for Teaching Innovation.

Climate change is one of the great challenges we face. I give talks about different aspects of climate change where I try to link basic science with what it means for individuals and for society. Check out the list of talks I've given in the past and let me know if you have ideas for more.

I am currently serving my second term as associate editor for Atmospheric Environment.

How to Reach me:

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

O'Neil 300C, 3642 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis MO, USA

e-mail: benjamin dot defoy at slu dot edu