The Zondlo group uses novel optical instrumentation to address key questions in global climate change and air quality. New advances in optical technologies are allowing for unprecedented methods to observe the atmosphere, particularly with respect to cloud and aerosol processes which contribute the largest uncertainty to predicting future climate, and in quantifying emissions of trace gas species. We develop and deploy optical-based instrumentation using mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers and vertical cavity surface emitting lasers and analyze subsequent data to provide more accurate predictions of global climate change, air quality, and emissions of greenhouse gases. We are also increasingly using satellite retrievals to help bridge the gap in scales between intensive field campaign based measurements and the larger spatial and temporal scales that can be accessed using satellite.

The ultimate goal for any new, atmospheric instrument is to provide novel measurements for understanding important science issues. To this end, new instruments are first prototyped in the laboratory, tested informally on ground-based platforms, and eventually are deployed as part of scientific field campaigns. The field experiments range from a complex ground network to advanced airborne platforms depending upon the scientific goals. International field campaigns bring together a wide array of researchers in a collaborative setting to address important scientific questions. It is an exciting, intense, and tremendously rewarding opportunity to conduct research as part of such a multidisciplinary and international team of scientists.