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Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Viral Shah

(SR SCIENTIFIC PROGR/ANALYST)

Viral Shah's Contact Card & Information.
Email: viral.shah@nasa.gov
Org Code:
Address:
NASA/GSFC
Mail Code 610.1
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Employer: MORGAN STATE UNIV.

Brief Bio


I am an atmospheric scientist focused on understanding how pollutants affect air quality, tropospheric composition, and climate through atmospheric chemistry. My research aims to identify and understand the key processes controlling our atmosphere's chemical state. I develop global chemistry models and integrate them with Earth observations to advance our understanding of how human activities and natural processes interact to shape the chemical environment of our atmosphere.

Research Interests


Tropospheric chemistry and air quality

Earth Science: Theory & Modeling

My current research in focused on understanding the processes that affect tropospheric ozone and nitrogen oxides and improving the representation of these processes in atmospheric chemistry models. I primarily work with the GEOS-Chem chemistry model, which is now included in GMAO's GEOS model and is used to produce the GEOS Composition Forecasts (GEOS-CF). I use atmospheric observations from satellites, aircraft campaigns, and ground-based sites to evaluate models.

Positions/Employment


Associate Research Scientist

GESTAR II, Morgan State University - Greenbelt, MD

October 2024 - Present


Lead Research Scientist

SSAI - GSFC

2022 - 2024


Research Associate

Harvard University - Cambridge, MA

2018 - 2022

Education


Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (2018)

Selected Publications


Refereed

2024. "Particulate Nitrate Photolysis as a Possible Driver of Rising Tropospheric Ozone.", Geophysical Research Letters, 51 (5): [10.1029/2023gl107980] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Nitrogen oxides in the free troposphere: implications for tropospheric oxidants and the interpretation of satellite NO2 measurements.", Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 23 (2): 1227-1257 [10.5194/acp-23-1227-2023] [Journal Article/Letter]

2021. "Improved Mechanistic Model of the Atmospheric Redox Chemistry of Mercury.", Environmental Science & Technology, 55 (21): 14445-14456 [10.1021/acs.est.1c03160] [Journal Article/Letter]

2020. "Global modeling of cloud water acidity, precipitation acidity, and acid inputs to ecosystems.", Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 20 (20): 12223-12245 [10.5194/acp-20-12223-2020] [Journal Article/Letter]

2020. "Effect of changing NOx lifetime on the seasonality and long-term trends of satellite-observed tropospheric NO2 columns over China.", Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 20 (3): 1483-1495 [10.5194/acp-20-1483-2020] [Journal Article/Letter]