Blake Sorenson

About

Blake Sorenson is an atmospheric scientist whose research centers on Arctic aerosol dynamics and the climatic impacts of biomass burning. His most influential work establishes a comprehensive baseline for Arctic aerosol optical depth (AOD) using two decades of satellite retrievals, ground observations, and model reanalyses. In a landmark two-part study (2022), Sorenson and colleagues produced the first long-term climatology and trend analysis of spring and summertime AOD across the Arctic from 2003 to 2019. Part 1, with 51 citations, quantifies baseline AOD levels and reveals significant seasonal and regional trends. Part 2, cited 36 times, provides a statistical framework for understanding extreme AOD events, directly linking regional biomass burning processes to severe aerosol loading episodes. This work is critical for improving climate model predictions of Arctic radiative forcing and understanding how increasing wildfire activity in boreal regions affects the rapidly changing Arctic environment. Sorenson’s contributions have been essential in bridging observational data with reanalysis products, offering the scientific community a validated reference for future aerosol-climate studies in one of Earth’s most sensitive regions.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Arctic spring and summertime aerosol optical depth baseline from long-term observations and model reanalyses – Part 1: Climatology and trend

   51 citations · 2022
2. 2
   Arctic spring and summertime aerosol optical depth baseline from long-term observations and model reanalyses – Part 2: Statistics of extreme AOD events, and implications for the impact of regional biomass burning processes

   36 citations · 2022
3. 3
   Arctic spring and summertime aerosol optical depth baseline from long-term observations and model reanalyses, with implications for the impact of regional biomass burning processes

   3 citations · 2021

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links