George Mason University Scientist Contributes to the latest WMO Air Quality and Climate Bulletin

George Mason University scientist Dr. Patrick Campbell (GMU/SESS), along with co-authors from the U.S. EPA (Drs. John Waker and Jeremy Schroeder) and NOAA-ARL (Dr. Rick Saylor), contributed to recent World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Bulletin, specifically the 2023 WMO Air Quality and Climate Bulletin reporting that “Fire emissions are an important source of atmospheric nitrogen deposition to downwind ecosystems“. 

Here they discuss how a consensus is emerging that climate-driven increases in heatwaves and droughts are very likely to increase the frequency and severity of wildfires in many areas across the globe, with potentially serious ramifications for enhanced downwind nitrogen deposition and associated impacts. An integrated effort of observation and modelling is needed to better understand the role of fire in nitrogen deposition and the resulting ecosystem exposure and impacts. 

See the full WMO press release here:  https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/wmo-bulletin-heatwaves-worsen-air-quality-and-pollution 

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