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Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
Home  /  People  /  Paul O. Wennberg

Paul O. Wennberg

R. Stanton Avery Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Environmental Science and Engineering
B.A., Oberlin College, 1985; Ph.D., Harvard University, 1994. Associate Professor, Caltech, 1998-2001; Professor, 2001-04; Avery Professor, 2004-; Director, Linde Center, 2008-11, 2014-23; Executive Officer, 2012-23; Acting Director, Linde Center, 2012-14.
Research Summary
Laboratory and field studies probing the processes controlling photochemistry, dynamics, and radiation in the Earth's atmosphere; spectroscopy and kinetics; aircraft-borne and ground-based instrument development; Mars photochemistry and atmospheric science.

Research Options

Environmental Science and Engineering; 

Research Areas

Atmospheric Chemistry;  Environmental Geochemistry; 

Profile

Please see my personal web page or my group web page for more information on my research.

Publications

For a complete publications list, see feeds.library.caltech.edu
ESE/Ge/Ch 171. Atmospheric Chemistry I. 9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2023-24. Prerequisites: Ch 1 or equivalent. A detailed course about chemical transformation in Earth's atmosphere. Kinetics, spectroscopy, and thermodynamics of gas-phase chemistry of the stratosphere and troposphere; sources, sinks, and lifetimes of trace atmospheric species; stratospheric ozone chemistry; oxidation mechanisms in the troposphere; aerosol chemistry.
Instructor: Wennberg
ESE/Ge/Ch 171. Atmospheric Chemistry I. 9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2022-23. Prerequisites: Ch 1 or equivalent. A detailed course about chemical transformation in Earth's atmosphere. Kinetics, spectroscopy, and thermodynamics of gas-phase chemistry of the stratosphere and troposphere; sources, sinks, and lifetimes of trace atmospheric species; stratospheric ozone chemistry; oxidation mechanisms in the troposphere; aerosol chemistry.
Instructor: Wennberg
ESE/Ge/Ch 172. Atmospheric Chemistry II. 3 units (3-0-0); first term, 2022-23. Prerequisites: ESE/Ge/Ch 171 or equivalent. A lecture and discussion course about active research in atmospheric chemistry. Potential topics include halogen chemistry of the stratosphere and troposphere; aerosol formation in remote environments; coupling of dynamics and photochemistry; development and use of modern remote-sensing and in situ instrumentation. Graded pass/fail. Given in alternate years; not offered 2022-23.
Instructors: Seinfeld, Wennberg
ESE 1. Earth's Climate. 9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2021-22. An introduction to climate on Earth. How Earth's climate has changed in the past and its evolving response to the rapid increase in carbon dioxide and methane happening today. Model projections of future climate and associated risks. Development of climate policies in face of uncertainty in these projections and risks. Enrollment is limited. Satisfies the menu requirement of the Caltech core curriculum. Juniors and Seniors who have satisfied their menu course requirement should enroll in ESE 101.
Instructor: Wennberg
ESE/Ge/Ch 171. Atmospheric Chemistry I. 9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2021-22. Prerequisites: Ch 1 or equivalent. A detailed course about chemical transformation in Earth's atmosphere. Kinetics, spectroscopy, and thermodynamics of gas-phase chemistry of the stratosphere and troposphere; sources, sinks, and lifetimes of trace atmospheric species; stratospheric ozone chemistry; oxidation mechanisms in the troposphere; aerosol chemistry.
Instructors: Seinfeld, Wennberg
ESE/Ge/Ch 172. Atmospheric Chemistry II. 3 units (3-0-0); first term, 2021-22. Prerequisites: ESE/Ge/Ch 171 or equivalent. A lecture and discussion course about active research in atmospheric chemistry. Potential topics include halogen chemistry of the stratosphere and troposphere; aerosol formation in remote environments; coupling of dynamics and photochemistry; development and use of modern remote-sensing and in situ instrumentation. Graded pass/fail. Given in alternate years; not offered 2021-2022.
Instructors: Seinfeld, Wennberg
ESE 1. Earth's Climate. 9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2020-21. An introduction to the coupling between atmospheric composition and climate on Earth. How Earth's climate has changed in the past and its evolving response to the rapid increase in carbon dioxide and methane happening today. Model projections of future climate and associated risks. Development of climate policies in face of uncertainty in these projections and risks. Enrollment is limited. Satisfies the menu requirement of the Caltech core curriculum. Juniors and Seniors who have satisfied their menu course requirement should enroll in ESE 101.
Instructor: Wennberg