Science - Dr. Hsu & Aerosols

Science - Dr. Hsu & Aerosols

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Dr. Nai- Yung Christina Hsu

Things You Should Know About

Multiple Choice

Dr. Hsu is a(n) _______ scientist. She studies how

Earth’s atmosphere changes, and how these changes affect Earth’s surface.​

• weather

• atmospheric

• life

• weather man

Multiple Choice

Dr. Hsu earned a Ph.D. degree in atmospheric science from the _______.

• Harvard University

• Oxford University

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Georgia Institute of Technology

Education

She has a degree of B.S. in Atmospheric Sciences from the National Taiwan University (Taipei, Taiwan) in 1984, and Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1991.

Multiple Choice

Dr. Hsu studies _________, which are tiny particles that hang in the air. These include solids, such as smoke and soot, and liquids, such as tiny water droplets.​

• snow

• rain

• aerosols

• water vapor

smoke and soot

• Smoke is a mix of gases (including carbon dioxide and water vapour) and tiny particles (called soot)

• Soot produced by burning wood, leaves, dried plant material, coal, and liquid fuels such as diesel, kerosene or petrol.

Multiple Choice

Dr. Hsu studies aerosols because water vapor _____ on them to form water droplets.

She is interested in the source, amount, and distribution of these particles in the atmosphere.​

• evaporates

• condenses

• precipitates

• melts

Aerosols

Aerosols may be either solids or liquids, but not gases.

***WATER VAPOR ,which is not in the gas state of water, is not an aerosol.

Natural Sources of Aerosols

desert dust

"The Perfect Dust Storm"

Dr. Hsu studied the " The Perfect Dust Storm" of 2001, which brought dust from Asia across the Pacific Ocean to North America. Her illustrated report on this dust storm can be viewed on NASA's website.

Natural Sources of Aerosols

smoke from forest fires

Open Ended

What are the effects of forest fires?

Natural Sources of Aerosols

volcanic ash

volcanic ash

Levels of solid aerosols increase dramatically after a volcanic eruption.

Open Ended

What are the effects of volcanic eruptions?

Human Activities - Sources of Aerosols

Burning of fossil fuels

Open Ended

What are the effects of burning of fossil fuels?

Burning of fossil fuels

Coal-burning power plants release tons of mercury into the air. This mercury travels in aerosols and returns to surface that contaminates bodies of water such as lakes.

Multiple Choice

Why don't aerosols fall immediately back to Earth's surface?

• very big and heavy

• very small and light

Multiple Choice

How do aerosols eventually end up in the Earth's surface?

• water cycle- precipitation

• gravity

• friction

Multiple Choice

Dr. Hsu studies the effects of ____________ blocking sunlight.​

• clouds

• aerosols

• wind

• airplane

INTERESTS

• Remote sensing of aerosol and clouds

• Satellite remote sensing of aerosols over desert and semi-desert regions

• Radiative forcing of aerosols

  Interaction of aerosols with clouds and precipitation

• Monitoring urban pollution

Multiple Choice

Today, Dr. Hsu works for _______ —the U.S. agency that explores space and studies Earth from space.

• NASA

• NSO

• NAPA

• USA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

We are NASA

video

Multiple Choice

Dr. Hsu uses _________ to measure and track the movement of aerosols.​

• anemometer

• weather balloon

• satellite

• rain gauge

Satellites

You may think that NASA scientists study only space. However, Dr. Hsu uses satellites in orbit to collect her data to study Earth's atmosphere.

Multiple Choice

Dr. Hsu has received numerous NASA ________ for her achievements. ​

• Oscar awards

• Punctual awards

• Nobel Peace Prize awards

• Goddard awards

AWARDS

• NASA Goddard Exceptional Achievement for Science 2016

• NASA HQ Group Achievement Award for Suomi NPP Mission 2012

• NASA Goddard Exceptional Achievement Award 2007

• NASA Goddard Performance Award 2007

• NASA Goddard Best Senior Author Publication Award 2004

• NASA Goddard Outstanding Science Award 2003

Open Ended

Why do you think aerosols are important for scientists to study?

Open Ended

How might atmospheric scientists such as Dr. Hsu work with other NASA scientists to study Earth?

Open Ended

Individuals who opt for a career as atmospheric scientists are responsible for analysing data about atmosphere.

If you are an atmospheric scientist, what particular matter/subject would like to study?

Now Be An Active Aerosol Detective!

Each clue describes a source of aerosol particles.

Match each clue with the picture that illustrates it.

a desert

a forest fire

pollutants coming out of a factory

clouds above an ocean

an erupting volcano

Multiple Choice

It may be quiet for years, then it releases smoke and ash with a boom!​

Multiple Choice

Blustery winds launch sandy aerosols everyday from dry places such as this one.​

Multiple Choice

​People are the source of this air pollution.

Multiple Choice

Tiny water droplets are aerosols, too.

They often come from this source.​

Multiple Choice

One little match can spark one of these.

Think About It!

Open Ended

How might human activities add aerosols to the atmosphere?​