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Energy use, land cover, and a range of natural and human activities emit chemicals into the atmosphere and are associated with risks to health, agricultural productivity, natural ecosystems, and man-made structures. Researchers at SAGE are working to improve understanding of the emission sources, meteorological processes, and impacts of atmospheric pollutants. In support of this work, we work closely with researchers at UW Energy Institute, UW Environmental Chemistry & Technology Program, the UW Center for Freight Infrastructure, Research, and Education (CFIRE), the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), the City and Regional Planning Program at Georgia Tech. Current air quality work at SAGE is funded by the U.S. EPA, NASA, CFIRE, and the UW Graduate School. Air quality research at SAGE directly relates the Nelson Institute's Air Resources Management (ARM) Graduate Certificate Program, and is pursued by students in the Nelson Institute's Environment & Resources Program, and the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOS).
P.I.s
• Dr. Tracey Holloway and her group employ mathematical models of the atmosphere to evaluate how emissions in one area can affect atmospheric chemistry downwind, how alternative energy strategies could improve air quality, and to evaluate connections between climate and chemistry.
• Dr. Greg Nemet evaluates policy options to control air quality and climate change in a coordinated manner, and to identify energy options that advance multiple environmental goals.
• Dr. Jonathan Patz has lead a number of studies evaluating the health risk associated with ground-level air pollution, connecting air quality with broader climate and energy health challenges.
• Dr. Chris Kucharik analyzes models and observations to estimate the impact of ozone exposure to crop-yields in the Upper Midwestern U.S.
Students & Post-Docs
Jill Baumgartner, Erica Bickford, Maggie Grabow, Matt Johnston, Dr. Meiyun Lin, Matt Luedke, Claus Moberg, Jami Morton, Steve Plachinski, Anjali Sauthoff
Ongoing Projects
CAQE – Climate, Air Quality, and Energy. A collection of intersecting projects addressing how energy use trade-offs will affect both climate and air quality, especially in the Upper Midwest. Collaboration between Holloway, Nemet, and Paul Meier (Director, Energy Institute). CAQE researchers will evaluate how electricity generation trade-offs will effect both climate and air quality, how expanded railway service could reduce freight emissions, and how biofuels and other short-term strategies could reduce emissions from heavy-duty vehicles. Funding from Wisconsin Focus on Energy and UW CFIRE.
Impacts of Climate Change on Ground-level Ozone – Holloway and students employ statistical and dynamical models to project climate change impacts on tropospheric ozone, quantify individual climate impacts, and characterize non-linear processes from urban to global scales. Funding from the UW Graduate School.
Impacts of Climate Change on Mercury Chemistry – In collaboration with Jamie Schauer, Holloway and student evaluate the EPA’s CMAQ model treatment of mercury chemistry in the Upper Midwestern U.S., identifying key uncertainties, model sensitivities, and response to improved chemical processes. Funding from the U.S. EPA.
Ozone Impacts on Crops – Kucharik is collaborating with Prof. Tracy Twine (University of MN) to develop models evaluating plan response to ambient ozone concentrations, known to decrease yields.
PLUTO – Projecting the Impact of Land Use and Transportation on Future Air Quality. Ongoing collaboration between Holloway and Prof. Brian Stone (GA Tech) evaluating how "smart growth" strategies affect air quality on urban and regional scales. Funding from U.S. EPA.
Regional Impacts on Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution – Multiple projects pursued by Holloway, students, and post-doc addressing exchange of ozone and aerosols among North America, Europe, and Asia, with a focus on regional processes and impacts (using regional models WRF/Chem and CMAQ). Contributing to the UN Task Force on Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution, and the Model Inter-Comparison for Asia (MICS-Asia). Funding from NASA.
Triple-Win Biking Project – Patz and students evaluating health/fitness, air quality, and climate benefits associated with increased bicycle use in Madison, Wisconsin, as a model for developing healthy urban areas worldwide.
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SAGE is a Research Center of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
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