Satellite Image: NASA
Welcome to the research group of Dr. Chris
Hennigan - Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical,
Biochemical and Environmental Engineering (CBEE) at the
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).
Air
pollution is a significant problem that has many
negative effects on society. This includes
detrimental impacts on human health, visibility
reduction, and ecosystem stability (think acid
rain). Our research focuses on an important
class of pollutants known as aerosols (also called
particulate matter - PM). Aerosols are
extremely small solid or liquid particles
suspended in the air (they are so small that they
can have atmospheric lifetimes of days to
weeks). Aerosols also have important effects
on Earth's climate - they scatter and absorb solar
radiation and impact the radiative properties of
clouds.
Overall, our research aims to better understand the sources and processes that affect aerosol concentrations in the atmosphere. Many of these processes are currently not well known, so a better characterization is important if we are to devise strategies to reduce aerosol concentrations and mitigate their harmful effects. Aerosols also represent a major uncertainty in our understanding of the role that people play in global climate change: reducing this uncertainty is another strong motivating factor for our work . Our research approach employs a combination of laboratory experimentation and direct atmospheric measurements.
We are
currently recruiting highly motivated
undergraduate and graduate students to work on
a variety of exciting research projects. Contact Dr.
Hennigan if you are interested in
joining the group.