Tag: Aerosol/Cloud Physics/Radiation

Zamora stands in front of the corner of the Greenland ice sheet. The ice is melted as the photo is taken in August. Zamora is posing with a piece of ice in her hand.

Measuring Aerosols in the Arctic

November 1, 2024

Sea ice over the Arctic Ocean, as seen from above. A layer of haze – primary smoke from Canadian fires – obscures the view. Credit:

Jaehwa Lee is Robert H. Goddard Honor Award Winner

August 8, 2024

ESSIC scientist Jaehwa Lee has been awarded the Robert H. Goddard Award for Science in recognition of his significant contributions to aerosol research, specifically, his

A schematic diagram describing the impacts of cloud-surface-coupling on the aerosol-cloud-interaction. When a cloud is coupled with the surface, a cloud is formed near the top of the planetary boundary-layer (PBL) that interacts strongly with the well-mixed aerosol, whereas they have little interaction under decoupled conditions. As aerosol alters cloud microphysics (more aerosol leads to more cloud droplets of smaller particle size that makes cloud brighter), solar radiation reflected by cloud is more under coupled conditions than under decoupled conditions, or a stronger cooling effect as indicated by the orange arrows. As a result, lack of accounting for the cloud-surface coupling tends to result in an underestimation of aerosol indirect radiative forcing, which is likely a major contributing factor to the systematic discrepancies between observation-based and model-based estimate of the aerosol cooling effect. Adapted from Su et al. (2024, Sci. Adv.).

Aerosols Affect Climate More Than We Think

May 23, 2024

A key to improve climate prediction is to improve understanding of the impact of aerosol on clouds, or commonly known as the aerosol-cloud-interaction according to a new study led by Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) researchers published today in Science Advances.

Sampa Das Receives 2023 Robert H. Goddard Honor Award

July 20, 2023

ESSIC Research Scientist Sampa Das has been selected as a recipient of the 2023 Robert H. Goddard Honor Award, NASA’s Center-level award selected annually by an awards committee based on the nominations from the peers. Das received an award under the category of “Excellence in Science”. She is one of the 9 individuals selected for 2023 across the Sciences and Exploration Directorate.

Jing Wei Wins Remote Sensing’s 2023 Young Investigator Award

July 14, 2023

ESSIC scientist Jing Wei is the winner of the Remote Sensing 2023 Young Investigator Award.

Zhanqing Li. Image credit: John T. Consoli/Faye Levine/University of Maryland. Effects by Nuwan Paditha (Click image to download hi-res version)

Zhanqing Li Receives Fulbright Specialist Award

May 5, 2023

Distinguished University Professor (DUP) Zhanqing Li has received a Fulbright Specialist Program award, a prestigious honor bestowed by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board to support Dr. Li’s month-long visit of the Universite de Lille in Lille, France, where he will be collaborating on studies concerning air pollution and interactions with global climate changes by means of remote sensing and AI techniques.

Can Li receiving his award from Dean Amitahb Varshney

Can Li is CMNS’ 2023 Distinguished Research Scientist

April 21, 2023

Congratulations to ESSIC Scientist Can Li, the newest recipient of CMNS’ Distinguished Research Scientist Prize.

Jifu Yin presents “Refinement of NOAA AMSR-2 Soil Moisture Data Product using an Optimal Machine Learning Model”

ESSIC Scientists Present at NCWCP-UMD Mini-Conference

March 27, 2023

Recently, researchers from NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction (NCWCP) and University of Maryland gathered for a mini-conference to share presentations from recent conferences such as the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and American Meteorological Society (AMS) annual meetings.

ESSIC/CISESS at the AMS Annual Meeting

February 1, 2023

ESSIC/CISESS had a large presence at the AMS Annual Meeting, held in mid-January in Denver and virtually.

Wei Named Associate Editor of JGR: Atmospheres

January 20, 2023

Jing Wei has been appointed an Associate Editor for the journal JGR: Atmospheres of the American Geophysical Union (AGU). As an Associate Editor, Wei will maintain and improve the quality of the journal, facilitate a timely review process, and assist the editor to solicit important and thought-provoking articles. JGR: Atmospheres (IF = 5.22) publishes original research articles that advance and improve the understanding of atmospheric properties and processes, including the interaction of the atmosphere with other components of the Earth system, as well as their roles in climate variability and change.