- Dr. David T. HoAdjunct Research ScientistLamont-Doherty Earth ObservatoryGeochemistryFields of interest:Air-water gas exchange, tracer oceanography, transport in continental waters
To assess how human impact will affect the natural environment, we need to understand the relevant environmental processes. I have focused my studies on transport processes in natural systems (atmosphere, oceans, lakes, rivers and groundwater), using natural and anthropogenic tracers.
Tracers, whether they are of natural or anthropogenic origin, have the potential to be valuable tools for studies of the dynamics of the atmosphere and natural water systems. The tracer techniques that I have employed could be divided into two categories: 1) transient tracers, which are like 'dyes' with known delivery rates to the environment (CFCs, SF6), and 2) deliberate tracers, which are purposefully released into water bodies (SF6, N2O, 4He, 3He, florescent dyes).
I'm currently working in the following areas: Quantifying the effect of environmental variables on air-water gas exchange, developing of tracers for ocean mixing and circulation, and investigating transport and mixing in continental waters.
Some of my projects include:
- Development of SF6 as a transient tracer for ocean circulation
- Develop SF5CF3 as a deliberate tracer for ocean mixing
- Air-Sea Gas Exchange investigations as part of SOLAS (Surface-Ocean Lower-Atmospheric Studies)
- Studying sheetflow in the Florida Everglades
- Studying transport and air-water gas exchange in the Hudson River Estuary
Educational Activities:EESC G9802 Seminar in GeochemistryEESC W4926 Principles of Chemical OceanographyLamont Projects:Selected Publications:Transport dynamics in a sheltered estuary and connecting tidal straits: SF6 tracer study in New York Harbor, , Environmental Science & Technology, Nov 15, Volume 37, Issue 22, p.5116-5126, (2003), Doi 10.1021/Es034198+Determination of longitudinal dispersion coefficient and net advection in the tidal Hudson River with a large-scale, high resolution SF6 tracer release experiment, , Environmental Science & Technology, Aug 1, Volume 36, Issue 15, p.3234-3241, (2002), UNSP ES015814+Atmospheric SF6 near a large urban area, , Geophysical Research Letters, Jun 1, Volume 27, Issue 11, p.1679-1682, (2000)Variability in atmospheric chlorofluorocarbons (CCl3F and CCl2F2) near a large urban area: Implications for groundwater dating, , Environmental Science & Technology, Aug 15, Volume 32, Issue 16, p.2377-2382, (1998)The effect of rain on air-water gas exchange, , Tellus Series B-Chemical and Physical Meteorology, Apr, Volume 49, Issue 2, p.149-158, (1997)
