Previous Research: PhD
A new record of CO, CH4 and CO2 at Wollongong
Atmospheric measurements are sparse in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly long-term high-precision measurements in non-remote regions. I was responsible for measuring ambient air with the in situ FTIR instrument at the University of Wollongong, Australia (UOW). This resulted in a new, calibrated and quality controlled record of CO, CH4, and CO2 between April 2011 to August 2014. This dataset helped determine the source influences on the UOW atmosphere. Overall, this research increased our understanding of background distribution, seasonality and transport of atmospheric trace gases in the Southern Hemisphere.
Buchholz, R. R. et al, Atmos. Environ., 126 (274-289), 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.11.041
Modelling Atmospheric Pollution in Australia
A major component of my PhD at the University of Wollongong, Australia, involved performing computational simulations of Earth's atmosphere with the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model. This was followed by comparisons of model results with measurements taken at Wollongong and other sites in the Australian region, as well as with satellite datasets.
Carbon Monoxide modelled with GEOS-Chem over Australasia, December 2006.
Validating the Australian Earth System model: ACCESS
In collaboration with researchers at CSIRO in Aspendale, Melbourne, I used the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model, along with measurements, to validate the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator (ACCESS) – a model that will be used to predict future climate and chemistry. This validation helped identify some important improvements to ACCESS.