Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

Shao-Meng Li
CIRES Visiting Fellow
2012-2013

Sabbatical
Ph.D., Florida State University/National Centre for Atmospheric Research Advance Study Program

Project: Volatile organic compounds off the coast of California: Results from the CalNex 2010 studies

Shao-Meng Li is a senior research scientist for the Canadian government, working in the Air Quality Research Division, based in Toronto, for the Department of Environment. Li’s main research interest is regional air quality, primarily in aerosol chemical composition and its various impacts.

While at CIRES, Li is working with Joost de Gouw’s group to investigate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) over California’s coastal areas. Li will use data gathered from the CalNex 2010 (Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change) field study. Li is particularly interested in the VOC compositions over the area where there has been a well-documented methane seepage from underwater coal deposits off the coast of Santa Barbara and will compare the data with NOAA’s results from over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. “Increased explorations for fossil fuels to meet increased demands have increased public awareness about potential environmental impacts these days, and among them, the emissions into the atmosphere have the potential to cause regional air quality problems, health issues, and related climate effects,” Li says. “Better fingerprinting and better quantifications of these emissions will enable models to better predict the consequences of the increased emissions, allowing for assessment of existing and/or new policies regulating the industry.”

Li’s stay in Boulder during his fellowship will be a homecoming, having lived here from 1989 to 1990. “I will enjoy the opportunity to catch up with old friends, but I’m also looking forward to meeting new ones, hiking, and learning how Boulder has changed from 22 years ago,” Li says.

Sponsor: Joost de Gouw