Dr. Kevin B. Strawbridge

Research Scientist - Lidar Technology Specialist

Current research and/or projects

Process studies focussed on understanding more about the optical properties and transport mechanisms of aerosols (airborne particulate matter), ozone and water vapour and their impact on climate, visibility and air quality.

One of the nation’s leaders in the application of lidars for the measurement of atmospheric constituents
Development of world-class lidar systems, including two aircraft lidar systems, mobile scanning lidar lab and various ground-based zenith-pointing lidar facilities
Involvement in several studies to understand the aerosol optical budget, coherency studies between lidar and sunphotometry and optical closure experiments using speciated, size-segregated in-situ measurements and Mie modeling techniques
Space-based lidar applications eg. the Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE), Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) and Mars lidar mission

Professional activities / interests

Elected member of the International Coordination group for Laser Atmospheric Studies (ICLAS)

Canadian representative for the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change Lidar Working Group.

International Consultant for Moscow-based International Science and Technology Center (ISTC).

Member of TransNational Access (TNA) Aerosol Clouds, and Trace gases Research InfraStructure (ACTRIS) Selection Committee.

Member of Global Atmospheric Watch Aerosol Lidar Observation Network (GALION).

Education and awards

B.Sc., (Hons.) Physics, McMaster University/University of Guelph

M.Sc., Physics, University of Guelph

Ph.D. Physics, University of Guelph

Environment Canada Citation of Excellence for outstanding work and leadership in planning, coordinating and implementing a research project.

Environment Canada Individual Award for Outstanding Work

NASA Group Achievement Award was presented to the CALIPSO team for exceptional achievement in the successful development, launch and operation of the CALIPSO satellite (space borne lidar).

Lumonics Award through the Canadian Association of Physicists for outstanding paper.

Award for the Best Condensed Matter Physics Paper published in the Canadian Journal of Physics.

Key publications

Buseck P.R.and S.E. Schwartz, “Tropospheric aerosols," in Treatise on Geochemistry Vol. 4, 2003. K.K. Turekian and H.D. Holland eds., Elsevier, Science Ltd., pp. 91-142. (contributing author)

Z. Levin, W.R. Cotton (eds.) 2008, Aerosol Pollution Impact on Precipitation, © Springer Sciencet+Business Media B.V. A scientific review by the WMO/IUGG International Aerosol Precipitation Science Assessment Group (IAPSAG) (contributing author)

Strawbridge, K.B. and Snyder, B.J. 2004. Daytime and nighttime aircraft lidar measurements showing evidence of particulate matter Transport into the northeastern valleys of the Lower Fraser Valley, B.C. Atmos Environ. 38 (34): 5873-5886.

Strawbridge, K.B. and Snyder, B.J. 2004. Planetary boundary layer height determination during Pacific 2001 using the advantage of a scanning lidar instrument. Atmos Environ. 38 (34): 5861-5871.

Strawbridge, K.B. 2006. Scanning lidar: A means of characterizing the Noranda-Horne Smelter plume. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis. 6 (2-3), 121-129.

McKendry, I. G., K. B. Strawbridge, N. T. O'Neill, A. M. Macdonald, P. S. K. Liu, W. R. Leaitch, K. G. Anlauf, L. Jaegle, T. D. Fairlie, and D. L. Westphal. 2007. Trans-Pacific transport of Saharan dust to western North America: A case study, J. Geophys. Res., 112, D01103, 13PP.

G. L. Manney, W. H. Daffer, K. B. Strawbridge, K. A. Walker, C. D. Boone,P. F. Bernath, T. Kerzenmacher, M. J. Schwartz, K. Strong, R. J. Sica,K. Kruger, H. C. Pumphrey, A. Lambert, M. L. Santee,N. J. Livesey, E. E. Remsberg, M. G. Mlynczak, and J. R. Russell III.. 2008 The high Arctic in extreme winters: vortex, temperature, and MLS and ACE-FTS trace gas evolution, Atmos. Chem. Phys. 8, 505–522.

McKendry, I., K. Strawbridge, M. L. Karumudi, N. O'Neill, A. M. Macdonald, R. Leaitch, D. Jaffe, S. Sharma, P. Sheridan, and J. Ogren. 2011. Californian wildfire plumes over Southwestern British Columbia: lidar, sunphotometry, and mountaintop chemistry observations. Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 465-477.