Sundar A. Christopher
Papers
9
Total Citations
1,605
H-Index
8
About
Sundar A. Christopher is a leading figure in satellite remote sensing of aerosols, with a career dedicated to understanding how atmospheric particles—from smoke and dust to urban pollution—affect climate and air quality. His research spans three interconnected areas: characterizing the optical properties of biomass burning particles, retrieving aerosol optical thickness from geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites, and linking satellite data to ground-level air quality. His most cited work, a 2005 review on biomass burning emissions (over 1,200 citations), has become a foundational reference for understanding how smoke particles scatter and absorb solar radiation, directly impacting radiative forcing estimates. He pioneered the use of geostationary satellite data for aerosol retrieval during ACE-Asia and demonstrated how satellite-derived aerosol optical thickness can estimate fine particulate matter (PM2.5) over Beijing—a critical advance for public health monitoring. His work on Saharan dust, including diurnal radiative forcing estimates during PRIDE and multi-platform analyses of intense dust storms, has deepened our understanding of dust’s role in the Earth’s energy budget. Through these contributions, Christopher has shaped how the scientific community uses satellite observations to bridge atmospheric physics and environmental policy.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 3Estimation of diurnal shortwave dust aerosol radiative forcing during PRIDE78 citations · 2003
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- 6Satellite and surface-based remote sensing of Saharan dust aerosols50 citations · 2010
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