Clouds & Aerosols

Clouds and aerosols are the non-gaseous constituents of the atmosphere. Aerosols enter the atmosphere through both natural and anthropogenically driven processes, and they can have a strong impact on the planet's energy budget through absorption and scattering of incoming solar radiation. Aerosols act as critical nuclei for cloud droplet formation, making their physical and chemical properties a major focus on ongoing research, especially with respect to Climate Change. Research topics in the department include those impacts on climate and climate change, changes in cloud and aerosol formation due to climate change, the physical and chemical processes of aerosols, and the numerical modeling of radiative transfer and cloud microphysics.

Faculty

Sarah Brooks

Professor

Director, Center for Atmospheric Chemistry and the Environment

Chemical composition and phase of atmospheric aerosols, ice nucleation, cloud formation, climate and air pollution, laboratory and field measurements, lidar observations, instrument development

University Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Sciences

Harold J. Haynes Chair in Geosciences

Atmospheric chemistry and physics, chemical, environmental, climate, and public health sciences; environmental and climate policy; science communication

renyi-zhang@tamu.edu

(979) 845-7656

Eller O&M 1108A