Profile:

Parker’s long-term career goal is to work at the Federal level, to better understand and either provide research support, or consultation, on how best to protect the North Atlantic Corridor from degradation of air and water resources. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Goucher College.

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NERTO Research Project Title:

SURFACE AND TOTAL COLUMN NO2 DYNAMICS IN URBAN COASTAL REGIONS

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NERTO Project Details :

Synopsis: This project will focus on measurements of atmospheric variability in coastal areas, using various in-situ and remote sensing sensors. Specifically, one of the objectives is to deploy sensors at fixed locations across coastal regions, as well as onboard research vessels and moving platforms, to assess spatial and temporal (diurnal and seasonal) dynamics in atmospheric traces gases (NO2 and O3) over estuarine and coastal waters, as well as across the land-ocean interface. Measurements will be performed in coastal regions characterized by different levels of atmospheric pollution, including the Chesapeake Bay estuary. Results will be compared with measurements of atmospheric nitrogen pollution performed as part of NOAA ARL (Air Resources Laboratory) field activities.

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NERTO Outcomes:

I can now use an advanced computer modelling system to monitor air-packet trajectories. Combined with the Land-Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions laboratory’s work in the use of ground and satellite resources to monitor air quality, I’m capable of providing maintenance and near-real-time informatics support for field-deployed assets. Results obtained from the NERTO experience have contributed massively to my thesis.

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Value of NERTO to the Line Office:

Results from this research helped OAR assess spatial and temporal (diurnal and seasonal) dynamics in atmospheric traces gases (NO2 and O3) over estuarine and coastal waters, as well as across the land-ocean interface.

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NERTO Skills:

Programming and data analysis were a central part of the (modified) NERTO plan. My facility with R has increased from creation of advanced scripts to modification of core packages, integration of NOAA-created software with the R environment, and contribution to the R package catalogue. Data Analysis capabilities were broadened, rather than deepened: Skills I’d learned for use in the bioinformatics of oncology, were reapplied to atmospheric science. Some new skills were learned in the areas of frequency and clustering analysis, when working on transect and trajectory characterization.