Brad Pierce

Brad Pierce is a Professor and Director of the Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has over 25 years of experience in global atmospheric modeling, focusing on air quality and chemical data assimilation systems. His work bridges satellite observations with ground measurements to improve environmental forecasting.

• Director, Space Science and Engineering Center (2018–present)
• Physical Scientist, NOAA/NESDIS CIMSS (prior to 2018)
• Senior Research Scientist, NASA Langley Research Center (previous position)

His research spans synoptic meteorology, atmospheric physics, and large-scale environmental dynamics. He leads the RAQMS (Real-time Air Quality Modeling System) project, integrating satellite data with ground and airborne measurements for global air quality forecasting. He contributed to major missions like GOES-R, GEO-CAPE, and FIREX-AQ, developing innovative approaches for emissions constraint and chemical transport modeling.

Current projects involve improving the Next Generation Global Prediction System (NGGPS) by implementing RAQMS chemical mechanisms. His recent work focuses on Lake Michigan ozone studies, wildfire emissions impacts, and geostationary satellite-based air quality monitoring through the TEMPO instrument. He developed the 2S-ESS radiative transfer model for faster ozone retrieval and created methods for hyperspectral surface reflectivity databases.

Recent publications highlight his contributions to understanding complex atmospheric interactions during events like the Lake Michigan Ozone Study (LMOS 2017) and FIREX-AQ campaigns. His work demonstrates how multi-sensor integration enhances ozone prediction accuracy and emissions estimation. He continues to advance methodologies for satellite-based air quality modeling and data assimilation systems.