Ross Salawitch

Ross Salawitch is a Professor at the University of Maryland, specializing in atmospheric chemistry and climate science. His research focuses on quantifying human impacts on atmospheric composition, including climate change, tropospheric pollution, stratospheric ozone depletion, and the carbon cycle. He collaborates closely with NOAA/ARL and NASA on initiatives such as the DCOTSS mission. Salawitch’s work bridges satellite data analysis, climate modeling (e.g., CMIP6), and field observations to address pressing environmental challenges like ozone layer recovery and greenhouse gas emissions.

His research interests span multiple disciplines:

• Stratospheric chemistry and ozone dynamics
• Climate sensitivity and carbon cycle feedbacks
• Satellite remote sensing of atmospheric constituents
• Air quality modeling in urban and regional contexts

Recent publications emphasize urgent topics like the 'Imminent Data Desert' threatening stratospheric monitoring, implications of updated climate models (AR6), and the role of very short-lived halogens in ozone recovery. His work also addresses societal impacts, such as inequities in ozone and PM2.5 exposure linked to socioeconomic factors.

Salawitch has contributed to policy-relevant studies, including analyses of post-COVID emission changes and the influence of volcanic eruptions (e.g., Hunga Tonga) on stratospheric composition. His interdisciplinary approach integrates empirical climate models with observational data to project future environmental trajectories.