Dan Westervelt
@dwesty
Associate professor in climate change, atmospheric chemistry, and air pollution at Columbia-Lamont @lamont.columbia.edu
NYC in the thick of it right now, corroborated by our observation site data and a photo from the UES/Yorkville. Supertall Park Ave apartments barely visible.
The latest data from my lab observation site at @lamont.columbia.edu . Seems like we're heading towards a big event. Visibility is currently very poor as can be seen from the photo of the monitoring site.
HRRR-smoke near surface smoke forecast for 5pm EDT this afternoon. Things could get pretty gross!
Here's a screenshot of June 7, 2023, which was the peak of the infamous 2023 Canadian wildfire event
New wheels! Our first EV, the Kia EV6. Plugged in at the @lamont.columbia.edu charging point conveniently located right outside of my office!
Textbook winter temperature inversion across the mid-Atlantic today impairing air quality (yellow = moderate AQI). A 20+ ºF swing in warmer temperatures today versus the last few days means warmer air aloft than at the surface (air has a lower heat capacity).
I am thrilled and honored to announce that I was awarded the 2025 Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Faculty Mentoring award, in recognition of excellence in mentoring of masters and doctoral research students. www.gsas.columbia.edu/news/2025-gs...
Update: real time aerosol chemical composition data is flowing! @lamontearth.bsky.social @columbiaclimate.bsky.social
As we work to get things set up, here's a sneak preview of some recent total PM2.5 mass data. Looking forward to seeing the speciation soon!
Checked the ole inbox for the first time in awhile today and yep... #replyall
Had a really great visit yesterday to Johns Hopkins University where I delivered the Wolman Seminar in environmental engineering. And of course an excellent visit with Pete DeCarlo's lab including his fantastic new mobile air chemistry lab publichealth.jhu.edu/departments/...
Here's a recent image from NOAA GOES satellite. Up by the NY/NJ border you can see a plume of smoke originating from a major fire and blow southeast right into NYC.
Almost 5 years ago our group was the first to co-locate air sensors at the Queens college EPA monitoring site. Nowadays, the agency is nearly out of space as the field has exploded locally. We were back last week for another great visit and co-location:
Of course the real question is the data any good? I'll test that in my lab eventually. The interface seems okay, and you can see the real data, though not sure what a "VOCs index" is.
Gained some followers so I figured I should post! Decided to order this Amazon "Smart Air Quality Monitor" and it looks like this. It goes for $48.99. Easy to install and compatible with Alexa.
Some highlights from the Heterogeneous Climate Forcing project at the Norwegian Academy of Sciences. Some really exciting work on aerosol influence on climate and air quality coming from this team over the next year. And lots of in-person time in Oslo which is always a plus!
Some scenes yesterday from Day 1 of the Kenyatta University - Columbia University Air Quality Certificate Program. From Nairobi, Kenya.
In all its glory, the sensor co-location site at University of Ghana. Teledyne, TEOM, PurpleAir, Clarity, QuantAQ, Airnote, AirGradient, IQAir, probably others. And of course many more to come via Afri-SET @subu.bsky.social @cleanaironea.bsky.social. Also the basis of the recent Raheja et al. 2023
When your research travel schedule is completely out of control. Not surprisingly, Delta couldn't find me an itinerary that worked.