Debra Wunch

Debra Wunch is an Associate Professor cross-appointed between the Department of Physics (51%) and the School of the Environment (49%) at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on precise atmospheric greenhouse gas measurements to understand the global carbon cycle and urban emissions.

• Key affiliations: Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) Chair (2020-present), Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO-2/3) Science & Validation Teams, and GeoCarb Science Team

Research highlights include:

• Boreal forest carbon dynamics and its role in the global carbon budget
• Toronto Atmospheric Monitoring of Emissions (TAME) project using mobile in situ gas analyzers
• Validation of satellite missions like OCO-2, Sentinel-5P, and GOSAT through ground-based FTIR networks
• Development of the TARDISS algorithm for vertical distribution analysis of greenhouse gases

Scientific achievements:

• 2023 Atmospheric Sciences Ascent Award (AGU)
• 2023 Royal Society of Canada New Scholars, Artists and Scientists
• 2018 & 2016 NASA Group Achievement Awards for OCO-2 calibration