Air quality is influenced by both local emissions and transported quantities. A combination of ground-based and satellite-based remote-sensing measurements help to disentangle local and transported sources of trace gases such as carbon monoxide. The satellite instrument MOPITT has been measuring atmospheric CO since 2000, and requires validation for accurate comparisons.

Wildfires are an important contributor to air quality, emitting large amounts trace gases and aerosols relevant for health and climate. My research focuses on long-term trends and interannual variability as well as local versus transported impacts. One project uses global modeling (CAM-chem) with variable fire emissions to help quantify model uncertainty.

Climate can link to pollution emissions, particularly from wildfire. Fire emissions are related to the amount, type and dryness of fuel available to burn, which in turn are related to climate. Climate modes of the major ocean basins in the Southern Hemisphere, can be linked to atmospheric carbon monoxide variability, potentially providing predictive capability of poor air quality.