Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

Innovative Research Program Projects, 1999

June
proposals submitted: 17
amount allocated: $125,000

SATELLITE GRAVITY AND LARGE-SCALE HYDROLOGY. John Wahr, Chris Milly (GFDL) and a graduate student are developing techniques for determining continental water and snow cover using satellite gravity field measurements obtained from the GRACE satellite.

DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL SI-GEL BASED ION SOURCES FOR THERMAL IONIZATION MASS SPECTROMETERS. Lang Farmer (Geology), Steven George (Chemistry), and Emily Verplanck (Geology) are improving sample ionization and sensitivity thus enabling isotopic studies on much smaller geologic samples.

SINGLE MOLECULE DETECTION IN THE GAS PHASE: AN EXPLOSIVE IDEA. John Birks (Chemistry) and a graduate student are developing a new analytical technique for quantifying OH, H₂, and DMS.

SELECTIVE DETECTION OF REACTIVE BIOGENIC VOCS BY NEGATIVE-ION CIMS. Ray Fall, Veronica Bierbaum and Thomas Custer (Chemistry) are developing analytical techniques to seek unequivocal identification of recently discovered volatile organic hydrocarbons.

FINE PARTICLE FORMATION USING SUPERCRITICAL CO₂-ASSISTED AEROSOLIZATION. Robert Sievers, Brenda Korte and a graduate student (Chemistry) are conducting fundamental studies to characterize current technology and improve their techniques.

HIGH RESOLUTION SOLAR RADIOMETER MEASUREMENTS FOR THE CHARACTERIZATION OF ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOLS AND GASEOUS TRANSMISSION. Bruce Kindel and Zheng Qu (CSES) are elucidating the impacts of atmospheric aerosols, develop instrumentation, and conduct field cross-calibrations.

December
proposals submitted: 17
amount allocated: $135,000

EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FAIR-WEATHER ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIC FIELD AND GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE. Ben Balsley and Rod Frehlich are using kites platforms to obtain continuous FWAEF measurements as a proxy for climate change and an understanding of continual recharging of the planetary electric field.

CHEMICAL REACTIVITY IN ORGANIC AEROSOLS. Shelley Copley (CIRES) and Veronica Vaida (Chemistry) are determining if interesting chemical reactions occur within organic surfaces of aqueous aerosols as a consequence of their architecture.

INUIT KNOWLEDGE OF CLIMATE AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE EASTERN CANADIAN ARCTIC; LINKING INDIGENOUS AND SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE: AN INTERACTIVE CD-ROM. Shari Fox (NSIDC) is recording the climate history stored in the cultures of indigenous peoples before it is lost. To order a free copy of the CD-ROM that resulted from this project, see When the Weather is Uggianaqtuq: Inuit Observations of Environmental Change.

A NEW METHOD FOR ESTIMATING BACTERIAL GROWTH RATES BY USE OF STABLE ISOTOPES OF CARBON AND NITROGEN. William Lewis and Sujay Kaushal are testing a new method of using organic tracers for measuring growth rates in natural microbial communities of aquatic environments.

EXPLORING NONLINEAR DYNAMICS OF EXTREME EVENTS IN DRIVEN THRESHOLD SYSTEMS. John Rundle (C4) Claudio Cioffi (Political Science) are exploring new approaches to modeling nonlinear dynamics of extreme events to derive fundamental results applicable to both geophysical and social systems.

DEVELOPMENT OF A DIFFERENTIAL FUEL CELL ANALYZER FOR TALL TOWER ATMOSPHERIC OXYGEN MEASUREMENTS. Britt Stephens with Pieter Tans (CMDL) are improving a commercial O₂ analyzer for investigating O₂:CO₂ signatures and fluxes.

SURFACE OZONE MEASUREMENTS AT SAN CRISTOBAL, GALAPAGOS OPERATED BY THE NATIONAL PARK YOUTH GROUP. Holger Voemel (CMDL) is seeking to extend O₃ observations in the Galapagos and involve local youth in this science project.

THE SOUND OF RAINDROPS: DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACCOUSTIC RAIN GAUGE. Chris Williams (NOAA/AL) is developing a new accoustic technique for the measurement of raindrop size and intensity.