August 2, 2010
Fulbright grant awarded to CIRES' Christa Hasenkopf
Christa Hasenkopf
CIRES’ Christa Hasenkopf is one of five University of Colorado at Boulder students to receive a Fulbright scholarship for the 2010-11 term. Hasenkopf, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, will study the mass loading and transport of black carbon in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. “If you compare air pollution in Ulaanbaatar to Beijing, it’s about twice as high in Ulaanbaatar,” said Hasenkopf, who noted that the geography and climate of the region help trap pollution in a concentrated area over the city.
Hasenkopf will be installing aethalometers, instruments that measure black carbon, to help keep an eye on the sky over Ulaanbaatar. She will also collaborate with researchers at the National University of Mongolia and other Mongolian and international agencies to examine existing records of air pollution and organize outreach activities educating the public on atmospheric science.
For Hasenkopf, this project is a chance to integrate science with policy and quality of life. “To study air pollution in places like Ulaanbaatar, where it hasn’t been extensively looked at before, is something that could really help the people who live there,” she said.
Contacts:
Morgan Heim CIRES: 303-492-6289
