Research & Initiatives

AQMEL research efforts include 4-D regional air pollution model development and applications, source apportionment, low-cost monitoring, personal exposure assessment, resilience planning, and environmental disparities mitigation. We welcome correspondence regarding potential collaborations, funding opportunities, or constructive feedback.

Thrust 1: Human Interactions and Air Quality Disparities

Air pollution does not impact all populations equally, and the disproportionate impacts are driven by political, economic, and social forces. We explore air pollution exposure disparities through the lenses of individual mobility [1,4], science communication, socioeconomics [5], historical political structures [2,6], and research equity [3] to support exposure mitigation and community resilience.

[1] Torres et al., ERL, 2024

[2] Ivey et al., EHP, 2024

[3] Ivey et al., ES&T, 2022

[4] Do et al., JAS, 2021

[5] Sasser, et al., JESEE, 2021

[6] Ivey, Nature, 2020

Contributors: Riverside City College; University of California, Riverside; University of Central Florida

Sponsors: California Air Resources Board; Center for Social Innovation; Environmental Protection Agency; Social Science Research Council

Thrust 2: Air Quality and Meteorology

Air pollutant formation and persistence is highly influenced by anthropogenic emissions, as well as meteorological conditions. We investigate the long-term impact of meteorology on air quality in U.S. metropolitan areas that are susceptible to weather-exacerbated air pollution episodes [7-14]. Our published studies support regulatory efforts for NAAQS attainment.

[7] Zhu et al., ESATMOS, 2024

[8] Quevedo et al., ES&T Air, 2024

[9] Do et al., ESATMOS, 2023
[10] Gao et al., Chemosphere, 2023

[11] Gao et al., STOTEN, 2023

[12] Gao et al., Env Poll, 2022

[13] Ivey et al., ChemRxiv , 2020

[14] Ivey et al., Atm Env, 2019

Contributors: Envair; Georgia Institute of Technology; University of Utah; Center for Environmental Research and Technology

Sponsors: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; South Coast Air Quality Management District; California Air Resources Board

Thrust 3: Computational Methods

As part of our fundamental modeling research, we explore the power of predictive algorithms [8, 16] and advanced computational hardware [15] to improve the speed and accuracy of larger-scale air pollution predictions.

[15] Do et al., EarthArXiv, 2023

Contributors: University of California, Riverside; George Delic, Hiperism Consulting

Sponsors: National Science Foundation

Thrust 4: Sustainable Transitions

As part of multiple synergistic activities with sustainability, transportation and mobility, economics, and systems experts, we develop state-of-the-science metrics and analyze ambient air pollution responses to climate change and other anthropogenic drivers. This research is critical for the development of equitable and sustainable transitions for services and built systems, e.g., human and goods movement planning for highly populated urban centers [16, 17].

[16] Do et al., ESATMOS, 2024

[17] Tanvir et al., 2023

Contributors: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Center for Environmental Research and Technology

Sponsors: National Center for Sustainable Transportation; South Coast Air Quality Management District; University of California Institute of Transportation Studies