Prof. Eric S. Saltzman

Professor of Earth System Science [Ph.D, in Oceanography from Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, FL]. Professor Saltzman brings expertise in detection of atmospheric trace gases, and of fluxes and cycling of trace gases through the marine atmosphere.
Dr. Saltzman’s research is focused on understanding the atmospheric cycling of low- level biogenic trace gases which have the potential to strongly impact the climate system. Examples of such gases include dimethylsufide, which influences cloud radiative properties, and the methyl halides, which influence stratospheric ozone.
Biologically produced gases in the surface ocean are present in the atmosphere at very low levels, but they have a major impact on global atmospheric cycling of elements such as sulfur, nitrogen, and carbon.  Some trace gases can also influence the climate system by influencing greenhouse gas lifetimes, stratospheric ozone, and cloud properties.  Professor Saltzman's research group develops analytical instruments to detect trace gases, measures the abundance of trace gases on ships and islands, and uses computer simulations to understand rates and pathways by which gases cycle through the atmosphere.  They also study long term changes in atmospheric composition due to changes in climate and man's activities.  They reconstruct the changes in atmospheric composition over many thousands of years by analyzing the trace gases in ancient air trapped in polar ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica.