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Environmental Sciences Department

The Environmental Sciences Department is comprised of the Atmospheric Sciences Division and the Environmental Research & Technology Division. The environmental programs include atmospheric physics and chemistry, carbon cycle research, plant ecology, and bioremediation. These efforts respond to the Department of Energy's mission to study the transport and fate of energy-related pollutants and also the effects of those pollutants on global climate and human health. The Department consists of approximately 80 people.

Organization Chart


Atmospheric Sciences Division

 

Environmental Research & Technology Division

 

Major Programs

Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM) -- Operation of ARM External Data Center (XDC) identifies, acquires and makes available data from sources outside of the ARM Program which are needed by ARM scientists.  The original experiment design of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility included five permanent sites and an ARM Mobile Facility (AMF) to be deployed episodically for periods on the order of one year.  The AMF tailors the sampling strategy of the AMF instruments to accommodate the scientific needs of the deployment, analyzing data, producing scientific products, interfacing with the ARM science team, interfacing with the ARM Climate Research Facility Board, and with the broader scientific community. 

Atmospheric Science Program (ASP) -- In recognition of the importance of aerosol-radiative forcing of climate change, the Department of Energy (DOE) is focusing research efforts in the Atmospheric Science Program (ASP) to improve understanding and model-based representation of the processes controlling aerosol loading, distribution, and pertinent properties, relevant to the influence of aerosols on climate.  The primary focus is to provide an enhanced scientific basis for specifying the relationship between: aerosol, chemical, and physical properties.  Participates in the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM).

Center for Environmental Molecular Science (CEMS) -- Evaluating long-term performance of contaminants in the environment is one of the major challenges facing Department of Energy (DOE). In support of this broad theme, research efforts explore basic mechanisms that govern the transport of actinides and other problematic radionuclides with a particular focus on uranium, the role of organic ligands, the impact of microbial activity in accelerating or decelerating contaminant mobility, and methods to evaluate the long-term performance of treated waste. The primary focus of CEMS is the investigation of molecular-scale mechanisms that govern sequestration in natural systems, with particular emphasis on the coordination and stability of contaminant species and coordinative aspects of surfaces that affect sequestration and long-term fate of contaminants.  This work will be conducted in connection with the Center for Environmental Molecular Science (CEMS), an Environmental Molecular Science Institute (EMSI) collaboration between Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and Stony Brook University (SBU), with contributions from Temple and Penn State Universities, co-funded by DOE and National Science Foundation (NSF).

Environmental Remediation Science Program (ERSP) -- ERSP is a scientific research program that seeks to provide the fundamental scientific knowledge needed to address challenging environmental problems that impede the remediation of contaminated sites. ERSP supports innovative, fundamental research investigating coupled chemical, biological and physical processes affecting the transport of DOE-relevant contaminants within the subsurface at DOE sites leading to new or improved subsurface remediation techniques and a sound foundation for remedial action decisions important to long-term site stewardship. Research priorities for the ERSP include defining and understanding the processes that control contaminant fate and transport in the environment and providing opportunities for use, or manipulation of natural processes to alter contaminant mobility. The ERSP research encompasses biologically-mediated and/or hydrogeochemical processes influencing the form and mobility of DOE contaminants and provide the basis for development of new remediation concepts or strategies for long term stewardship. Scientific disciplines represented in the program include microbial physiology and ecology, molecular biology, geochemistry, hydrology, and mathematical modeling.

Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) -- Studies the effects of enhanced carbon dioxide on field grown plants including wheat and sorghum in Arizona, Loblolly pines in the Duke Forest in North Carolina, aspen in Wisconsin, desert ecosystems in Nevada, and prairie ecosystems in Minnesota. Work is underway on a tropical ecosystem in Panama.

Terrestrial Carbon Program (TCP) -- Research on the impacts of invasive species on terrestrial carbon cycling processes will continue by studying the responses of different types of invasive species (grasses vs. woody species) along a precipitation gradient. The research will provide information about invasive species impacts on ecosystem productivity to make global estimates of carbon cycling more accurate and reliable.

Tracer Technology -- BNL scientists, laboratories and instruments are used to conduct research related to interests to better understand the processes that transport air, heat, water and pollutants.  To achieve this, ultra-sensitive perfluorocarbon gas tracers are used for environmental testing and monitoring.  Tracer applications include leak detection of underground pipes and other subsurface structures, determining gas flux footprints as part of the AmeriFlux/Flux Net Research Programs and large field experiments for determining atmospheric movement of air.  This includes the NYC Urban Dispersion Program (UDP) in which BNL partners along with eight other national laboratories for the Department of Homeland Security to  utilize our capabilities on mission directed science and technology related to atmospheric dispersion within cities.

Urban Dispersion Program (UDP) -- Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) partners along with eight other national laboratories for the Department of Homeland Security to participate in the NYC Urban Dispersion Program (UDP) utilizing our capabilities on mission directed science and technology.  BNL scientists, laboratories and instruments are used to conduct research related to interestst to better understand the processes that transport air, heat, water and pollutants within cities.

Publications

 

Books, Journal Articles and Book Chapters

Proceedings, Presentations, Abstracts, Reports and Patents

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Last Modified: March 10, 2008
Please forward all questions about this site to: Linda Satalino
 


DOE, Office of ScienceOne of ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOE’s Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited-liability company founded by Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit, applied science and technology organization.

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