Ave Arellano

Ave Arellano is an associate professor in UA Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences (HAS) and a faculty member of UA GIDP Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis (RSSA). His research at UA is directed towards improving our capability to assess, monitor, and predict the changes in the state of our Earth system. 

His current work focuses on determining the changes in atmospheric composition (air quality) across major megacities in the world through satellite data analysis and chemical transport modeling. Urban agglomeration is expected to continue growing over the coming decades. This is especially problematic as it is in these cities where human (anthropogenic) activities are most intense accompanied by immense energy consumption, mainly in the form of fossil-fuel combustion. This leads to enhanced emissions of air pollutants, greenhouse gases, and waste energy and subsequently impacting air quality, climate, and ecosystems. Atmospheric measurements of combustion products like CO, CO2, NOX, and aerosols offer opportunities to fingerprint the impacts of energy consumption on our environment.

His group, in collaboration with scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and faculty at UA, is also developing tools that integrate various types of data into Earth system models. These tools can be used to: a) assess the impacts of new combustion technologies on our environment, b) monitor effectiveness of air pollution control strategies and regulation, c) predict the impacts on air quality from potential changes of fuel usage in the future, and d) improve the skill of meteorological and chemical weather forecasts. 

Degrees

• PhD Environment, Duke University