Beyond GEOS 105

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Beyond GEOS 105 whats next?
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• Fall 2010 GEOS Climate Track Course
• Laboratory Methods in Atmospheric Sciences
  Syllabus ATMO464
• Instructor Sarah Brooks
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• Prerequisites Chemistry 101 and 1 semester of
  Calculus (Math 171 or Math 151).
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• Course Description
• Classroom and laboratory course introduction to
  chemical techniques used to monitor the
  atmosphere and other Earth systems sampling
  strategies survey of current literature focusing
  on development of new techniques.
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• Learning Outcomes
• Acquire basic instrument skills needed to conduct
  laboratory measurements.
• Learn what information can be obtained with
  various instruments used in atmospheric and
  environmental applications.

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Rocky Mt. Biological LabResearch Opportunities
http//rmbl.org/home/index.php?modulehtmlpagesfu
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http//rmbl.org/rockymountainbiolab/
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• What's Happening at the Lab
• NITROGEN POLLUTION WORSENS IN ROCKIES LAKES
  NOVEMBER 23, 2009
• The impact of airborne nitrogen released from the
  burning of fossil fuels and widespread use of
  fertilizers in agriculture is much greater than
  previously recognized, according to research
  results published in the November 6th edition of
  Science and Ecology. It extends even to remote
  alpine lakes. Examining nitrogen deposition in
  alpine and subalpine lakes in Colorado, Sweden
  and Norway, James Elser, a limnologist at Arizona
  State University (ASU) and colleagues found that,
  on average, nitrogen levels in the lakes were
  high, even in those lakes far from urban and
  agricultural centers. James Elser and others used
  the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory as a
  base camp while studying nearby lakes in 2006.

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Rocky Mt. Biological LabResearch Opportunities

• PROGRAM ONE  Advanced Independent Research/REU
  (with Senior Thesis Option)
• 10-week session June 7 - August 15This program
  targets rising seniors or students who have
  graduated.  Students conduct independent research
  under the supervision of RMBL scientists. 
  Students accepted through the Research Experience
  for Undergraduates (REU) program receive a 4,750
  stipend, free room, board and travel. 
• Minorities underrepresented in the biological
  sciences are strongly encouraged to
  apply.APPLICATION Deadline  February 15, 2010
  for REU Awards and for RMBL financial support. 
  APPLICATION Deadline  June 1, 2010 or until
  programs are filled, for students not receiving
  financial support.
• PROGRAM TWO  Independent Research and
  Course10-week session June 7 - August
  15Students conduct independent research under
  the supervision of RMBL scientists (75 time)
  while taking one of three field courses (25
  time) 1) Methods in Field Ecology 2) Research
  Training in Wildlife Biology, or 3) Research
  Training in Field Botany.  This program targets
  rising sophomores and juniors as well as students
  who wish to receive training in a particular
  area.APPLICATION Deadline  Feb. 15, 2010 for
  RMBL financial support.  
• APPLICATION Deadline  June 1, 2010 or until
  programs are filled, for students not receiving
  financial support. 

http//rmbl.org/home/index.php?modulehtmlpagesfu
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Rocky Mt. Biological LabResearch Opportunities

• Mentor Dr. Sarah Brooks, Texas AM University
• Advanced Undergraduate Research/REU (10 week
  program)
• The focus of my research is to better understand
  the role of biogenic atmospheric aerosols in
  cloud formation processes. Under most conditions,
  clouds do not form as droplets of pure water, but
  instead form on tiny aerosol particles, referred
  to as Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN). Sources
  of CCN include direct emissions of pollen from
  trees, grasses, and weeds, as well as particles
  which form in the atmospheric following gas phase
  emissions from plants. A better understanding of
  biogenic aerosol-CCN linkages is needed to
  understand how cloud formation, the hydrological
  cycle and ecological changes may shift in
  response to climate change. There are
  opportunities for REU students to participate
  directly in the CCN measurements or to work on a
  related project such as
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• Pollen forecasting What triggers a pollen
  outbreak? We are all familiar with pollen events,
  which leave our cars covered in yellow dust and
  cause those with allergies to sneeze. But what
  triggers these outbreaks? When and when do they
  occur? We will attempt to answer these questions
  by observing pollen counts daily at several
  locations, each next to a new RMBL weather
  station. When an event is observed, we will
  analyze the weather data to determine the
  conditions leading up to and at the time of the
  pollination, to look for possible predictors.
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• Classification of Vegetation as Sources of
  Atmospheric Biogenic Aerosols
• We will measure plant phenology and weather
  conditions to look for provide connections
  between natural variability in local conditions
  and cloud formation and processing. This project
  will focus on wind-pollinating species including
  aspen, Engleman spruce, subalpine fir, trillium,
  and sedges.

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RMBL June 2009
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What are the natural sources of nuclei for cloud
droplet formation? What is the role of pollen
in cloud formation?How will this change with
increased temperature due to climate change?
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RMBL Measurements 2009
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Preliminary Results

• Observations a major increase in the total
  number of atmospheric aerosols on June 26, 2009.
• Possible causes- Temperature increased, causing
  increase in emissions of VOCs and aerosols from
  englemann spruce and sunalpine fir (Chemical
  analysis is underway)

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The new aerosols (after June 26) are more
efficient at forming cloud dropletsThus,
biogenic emissions cause clouds under drier
conditions!