Chris Cappa

Chris Cappa is a Professor and Department Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Davis. His research focuses on quantifying processes controlling atmospheric aerosol emission, evolution, and impacts, with applications to air pollution control and climate modeling. Cappa leads the Cappa Group, which conducts laboratory and field studies to characterize aerosol physical, chemical, and optical properties.

Education and Background: While specific educational details are not explicitly listed, Cappa’s career includes prestigious fellowships such as the NSF CAREER Award and UC Davis Chancellor’s Fellow. His work bridges atmospheric chemistry, environmental engineering, and climate science.

Research Interests: Cappa’s primary focus is on understanding aerosol behavior in the environment, including their role in climate change, air quality, and human health. Key areas include secondary organic aerosol formation, biomass burning emissions, marine aerosol chemistry, and the development of advanced air filtration systems. His studies often integrate field campaigns (e.g., TRACER, SeaSCAPE) with laboratory experiments and computational models.

Recent Article Trends: Recent publications emphasize aerosol aging processes, marine ice-nucleating particles, and the efficacy of DIY air filters. Studies also explore interactions between aerosols and climate, such as secondary organic aerosol impacts on cloud formation and radiative forcing.

• Awards: UC Davis Chancellor’s Fellow (2013), NSF CAREER Award (2012), and multiple fellowships from DOE and the Department of Defense.

Advising and Grants: While specific student names are not listed, Cappa’s leadership in interdisciplinary projects suggests a mentorship role in graduate research. His grants include support from NSF, NASA, and collaborative initiatives.

Labs and Teams: The Cappa Group collaborates with institutions like Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and participates in large-scale field campaigns. Key projects include the SeaSCAPE study on marine aerosol evolution and TRACER’s focus on carbonaceous aerosols.