Apr 23
Chemistry Majors' Student Comps Talk presented by
'Earth’s Next Top Model: Constraining Uncertainties in the Carbon Cycle' Chemistry Comps Presentation by
Ben Corman, Chenxi Sun, Madeline Chosy, Raksha Kandel, Trey Stokes, Kitty Miao, Busayo Bolonduro, Kate Faber, and Jack Buckner
In the context of massive global climate change, scientists and policymakers rely on atmospheric chemical models to make accurate predictions about future climate. However, the utility of model predictions is limited by uncertainties that stem both from the algorithms that represent climate processes and the data that is fed into those algorithms. Constraining these uncertainties is a central challenge of developing useful climate models. In this talk, we explore how Dr. Paul Wennberg (Caltech) has used innovative analytical and experimental tools to improve measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide and to clarify the oxidation chemistry leading to secondary organic aerosol formation. These studies provide a connection between real world observations and computational predictions, helping increase our understanding of the Earth’s climate system.