R. Stanton Avery Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Environmental Science and Engineering; Executive Officer for Environmental Science and Engineering; Director, Ronald and Maxine Linde Center for Global Environmental Science
B.A., Oberlin College, 1985; Ph.D., Harvard University, 1994. Associate Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Environmental Engineering Science, Caltech, 1998-2001; Professor, 2001-03; Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Environmental Science and Engineering, 2003-04; Avery Professor, 2004-; Director, Linde Center, 2008-11, 2014-; Executive Officer, 2012-; Acting Director, Linde Center, 2012-14.
Laboratory and field studies probing the processes controlling photochemistry, dynamics, and radiation in the Earth's atmosphere; spectroscopy and kinetics; aircraft-borne and ground-based instrument development; Mars photochemistry and atmospheric science.
ESE 1. Earth's Climate.9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2020-21.
An introduction to the coupling between atmospheric composition and climate on Earth. How Earth's climate has changed in the past and its evolving response to the rapid increase in carbon dioxide and methane happening today. Model projections of future climate and associated risks. Development of climate policies in face of uncertainty in these projections and risks. Enrollment is limited. Satisfies the menu requirement of the Caltech core curriculum. Juniors and Seniors who have satisfied their menu course requirement should enroll in ESE 101.
Instructor: Wennberg
ESE 1. Earth's Climate.9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2019-20.
An introduction to the coupling between atmospheric composition and climate on Earth. How Earth's climate has changed in the past and its evolving response to the rapid increase in carbon dioxide and methane happening today. Model projections of future climate and associated risks. Development of climate policies in face of uncertainty in these projections and risks. Enrollment is limited. Satisfies the menu requirement of the Caltech core curriculum. Juniors and Seniors who have satisfied their menu course requirement should enroll in ESE 101.
Instructor: Wennberg
ESE/Ge/Ch 171. Atmospheric Chemistry I.9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2020-21.Prerequisites: Ch 1 or equivalent.
A detailed course about chemical transformation in Earth's atmosphere. Kinetics, spectroscopy, and thermodynamics of gas-phase chemistry of the stratosphere and troposphere; sources, sinks, and lifetimes of trace atmospheric species; stratospheric ozone chemistry; oxidation mechanisms in the troposphere.
Instructors: Seinfeld, Wennberg
ESE/Ge/Ch 171. Atmospheric Chemistry I.9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2019-20.Prerequisites: Ch 1 or equivalent.
A detailed course about chemical transformation in Earth's atmosphere. Kinetics, spectroscopy, and thermodynamics of gas-phase chemistry of the stratosphere and troposphere; sources, sinks, and lifetimes of trace atmospheric species; stratospheric ozone chemistry; oxidation mechanisms in the troposphere. Offered 2019-20.
Instructors: Seinfeld, Wennberg
ESE/Ge/Ch 172. Atmospheric Chemistry II.3 units (3-0-0); first term, 2020-21.Prerequisites: ESE/Ge/Ch 171 or equivalent.
A lecture and discussion course about active research in atmospheric chemistry. Potential topics include halogen chemistry of the stratosphere and troposphere; aerosol formation in remote environments; coupling of dynamics and photochemistry; development and use of modern remote-sensing and in situ instrumentation. Graded pass/fail. Offered 2020-21.
Instructors: Seinfeld, Wennberg
Research Website