Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

Brian Berkowitz, Head


This Department, established in 1990, is dedicated to understanding the complex inter-relationships among the major Earth Systems, and between the human need for energy and the consequent impact on the Earth's environment. This requires knowledge of the interdependent components that together constitute the "environment", as well as a commitment to protect this environment by improving the manner in which water, land and energy are utilized by humans.

The Department's research activities have several general areas of activities. One focuses on water and includes hydrology, geochemistry, land-plant-atmosphere interactions and oceanography. A second activity is in the use of stable isotopes for reconstructions of paleoclimatic and of biosphere-atmosphere dynamics, and a third is in the area of atmospheric chemistry and dynamics, and cloud physics. A fourth area of research is in planetary sciences. Research in solar energy is conducted in a dedicated facility, the Solar Tower, on campus. The Department is distinguished by the interactions among scientists from different backgrounds and expertise, which is critical to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the global environment. We also promote international collaboration based on short- and long-term visits for research and training by scientists who complement existing activities in the Department. The interdisciplinary nature of the Department is well reflected in the academic training of the research students. Their backgrounds vary enormously from physics and mathematics through geology to biology. We encourage the participation of students who are interested in not only investigating in depth a specific subject, but who are also interested in a broader, more integrative approach to science.


B. Berkowitz

Fluid flow and chemical transport in groundwater systems.

Percolation, scaling and statistical physics models of structural and dynamic processes in geological formations.

Experimental and theoretical analysis of reactive transport and precipitation/dissolution patterns in porous media.

Development of chemical methods for remediation of water polluted by organic compounds and heavy metals.


I. Halevy

The co-evolution of planetary climate and geochemistry on multiple timescales

  1.  The geological and geochemical history of Earth, planets and satellites

  2.  Global biogeochemical cycles and their interaction with the climate system

  3.  Drivers and consequences of episodes of global climatic and geochemical change


J. Karni

Development of directly irradiated solar receivers.

Carbon dioxide dissociation using concentrated solar energy

Energy transport in particles seeded flows at high temperature.

Development of alternative fuels and their production methods using solar energy

  1.  Carbon dioxide dissociation using concentrated solar energy


Y. Kaspi

Geophysical fluid dynamics

Atmospheric dynamics on Earth and other planets

  1.  Storm track dynamics

  2.  Geostrophic turbulence

  3.  Superrotation

  4.  Climate dynamics

Planetary interiors

  1.  Gravitational signature of internal dynamics on giant planets

  2.  Jets on giant planets

  3.  Internal tides

  4.  The Juno mission to Jupiter


I. Koren

Anthropogenic Effects on Clouds and Precipitation and the Derived Climate Forcing
I. Koren, NASA-GSFC, UMBC

The twilight zone - convective clouds and their interaction with the free atmosphere
I. Koren, NOAA-ESRL Boulder CO.

Cloud microphysics and dynamics

Cloud classification and cloud textures and morphology


Y. Rudich

Nano-sized particles and their environmental effects

  1.  Optical properties of aerosols

  2.  Studying the chemical processes of submicron particles

  3.  Health effects of environmental nanoparticles

  4.  Electron microscopy of micron sized particles

The chemistry of organic aerosols: reactivity with atmospheric radicals and oxidants.

  1.  Flowtube experiments

  2.  Aerosol flow experiments

  3.  Reactions of ozone and OH with particles, identification of surface and bulk products

Optical properties of absorbing aerosols

  1.  Cavity ring down aerosol spectrmetry

  2.  Asborbing aerosols

Chemical identification of organic compounds in atmospheric aerosols.

  1.  Absorption of organic compounds onto mineral dust particles

  2.  Identification of water-soluble material in biomass burning aerosols from Brazil

  3.  Use of analytical techniques such as GCMS and ion chromatography


A. Shemesh

Stable isotops and paleoceanography of the Southern Ocean.

Biogenic opal and its use in marine and continental paleo-climate reconstructions.

Oxygen and carbon isotopes in corals.


D. Yakir

Environmental and climatic influence on the exchange of trace gases and energy between plants, soil and the atmosphere.

Developing the use of stable isotopes (in particular, 13C, 18O, 15N, 2H) as tracers of biogeochemical cycles on land.

Climatic influence on the natural abundance of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in CO2, O2, H2O and organic matter.