Karen H. Rosenlof

Dr. Karen H. Rosenlof, Meteorologist at NOAA

Education

1994: Ph.D., University of Washington (Atmospheric Sciences)

1984: M.S., Colorado State University (Atmospheric Science)

1982: B.S., University of California at Davis (Atmospheric Science)

Experience

2007-Present: Program Leader, Chemistry and Climate Processes Group, NOAA ESRL, Chemical Sciences Division, Boulder, CO

1999-2007: Meteorologist, Meteorological Chemistry Group, NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder, CO

1994-1999: Research Associate, CIRES, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

1989-1994: Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

1984-1989: Professional Research Assistant, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

1982-1984: Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

1981-1982: Meteorologist Intern, NWS, Weather Service Forecast Office, Redwood City, CA

1980-1981: Student Trainee, NWS, CA/NV River Forecast Center, Sacramento, CA

1979-1980: Student Intern, California ARB, Emissions Inventory section, Sacramento, CA

My interests

My research focus has been on using constituent and temperature measurements to understand dynamical processes. In particular, I work on understanding trends and variability of the stratospheric transport circulation. This involves incorporating data analysis with output from a spectrum of models of varying complexity.

How I became a scientist

My strengths in school were in math and science classes. When I went to college, I majored in meteorology, and started working with the National Weather Service as an intern the summer after my sophomore year. I was interested in tropical weather, and ended up getting an MS at Colorado State where I worked with what would now be considered a very simple global model, but at the time it took an incredible amount of computer time. I then got a job programming for a mesospheric satellite project, and eventually went back to graduate school where I continued working with satellite data.

How my work benefits society

My research contributes to understanding of the stratospheric ozone layer and feedbacks that changes in the stratosphere have on surface climate. Ultimately, the goal is that what we learn about basic processes in the stratosphere will contribute to improving climate models, so that we can better advise policymakers on options to make for the future.