A clear understanding of the processes of atmosphere-biosphere exchange of reactive nitrogen compounds and their precursors is essential to EPA programs addressing air quality and ecosystem exposure. Air-surface exchange processes must be accurately represented in chemical transport models such as the Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system for predictions of air pollutant concentrations and atmospheric deposition. The post-doctoral candidate will investigate air-vegetation-soil interactions that drive atmosphere-biosphere exchange of reactive nitrogen and carbon compounds, particulate matter, and their precursors in natural landscapes. Net canopy-scale fluxes and in-canopy processes will be investigated using a combination of micrometeorological flux measurements and resistance-based and inverse source-sink modeling approaches. The candidate will work with advanced instruments for nitrogen and aerosol flux measurements and assist in the development of low-cost time-integrated methods to better estimate dry deposition for routine monitoring. In addition to conducting new measurements, the candidate will assist with analysis of existing data sets to evaluate flux processes. Work performed by the candidate would contribute to fundamental improvements in air-surface exchange algorithms used in chemical transport models and will support reviews of the secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and particulate matter.
Position description and application instructions: https://cfpub.epa.gov/ordpd/PostDoc_Position.cfm?pos_id=1116