Environmental Geochemistry Research Programs

Caltech-JPL Collaboration

Research Efforts

Colloquia

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Research Programs in Environmental Geochemistry

An integrated program of graduate research and education is centered on the multidisciplinary research theme of Global Environmental Science. These programs are housed in both the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences and in the Environmental Engineering Sciences program in the Division of Engineering & Applied Science. Participants also come from the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

This research area is crucial to the understanding of the present and future impact of human activities on the environment.

As the 21st century approaches, it has become increasingly clear that human activities have had unintended environmental consequences on local, regional, and global scales. The importance of understanding the complex feedback systems of the land, oceans, and atmosphere has also been identified as a prerequisite for prediction of the extent and effects of global change. Multidisciplinary research in Environmental Geochemistry will be used to provide graduate students with experience in the detailed study of fundamental processes governing the behavior of Earth systems, a broad knowledge of natural systems and their inherent complexity, and the opportunity to interact with faculty and students with a wide range of interests and expertise.

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Caltech-JPL Collaboration: A Unique Opportunity

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, located near the Caltech campus, offers a wide range of expertise, resources, and facilities for Global Environmental Geochemistry. Particularly pertinent are the remote sensing capabilities of JPL. Examples of relevant missions and experiments include: MLS (Microwave Limb Sounder), which obtains profiles of O₃, ClO, HNO₃, and upper tropospheric H₂O; TOPEX/ Poseidon, which measures ocean topography and altimetry; and the ALIAS infrared absorption spectrometer, which has been used to obtain measurements of HCl, CH₄, N₂O, and CO on many stratospheric aircraft and balloon expeditions. MLS and TES (Thermal Emission Spectrometer) instruments scheduled to fly on the upcoming EOS/Chem mission will provide global measurements of upper tropospheric and stratospheric composition. Extensive experimental facilities are also available in JPL laboratories for detailed measurements of chemical kinetics and spectroscopy. Many Caltech doctoral students collaborate with JPL scientists.

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Research Theme and Major Research Efforts

Students in Environmental Geochemistry at Caltech will participate in multidisciplinary and collaborative research, and gain experience with highly sophisticated analytical instrumentation and modeling and numerical simulation, and will develop an appreciation of the complexity of natural systems and an understanding of how such systems can be investigated.